Federal Government launches free digital procurement training for MSMEs

According to PUNCH, the Federal Government has rolled out a free digital training platform to remove barriers that have kept local entrepreneurs out of government contracting. The platform was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja by the Bureau of Public Procurement, working with the World Bank, to target roughly 39.6 million nano, micro, small and medium enterprises so they can bid for and win public contracts.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, called for a departure from an approach centred only on enforcing compliance, toward one that actually makes room for small operators within the system. He said cumbersome procedures, poor access to information and onerous documentation demands had kept many qualified entrepreneurs locked out of government contracts. Enoh warned that simply digitising procurement platforms would achieve little if businesses still struggled to use them, noting that limited technical know-how and weak internal systems are among the biggest hurdles.

Training Details

Earlier, the BPP Director-General, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, said the training scheme was built to close the knowledge and capacity gaps that had historically shut MSMEs out of government contracts. Adedokun noted that small businesses make up about 96 per cent of enterprises in the country and account for roughly half of Gross Domestic Product, yet remain badly underrepresented in public procurement. He explained that the platform works on smartphones, tablets and computers, offering hands-on training on spotting opportunities, putting together competitive bids, understanding contract obligations and meeting government performance benchmarks, complete with interactive modules, quizzes, worked examples and completion certificates. Adedokun cautioned that finishing the training does not automatically translate to a contract, as awards will still go through the established competitive process.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Charles Odii, said the scheme would link millions of Nigerian businesses to one of the country's biggest and most dependable markets. Odii put the number of nano, micro, small and medium enterprises in the country at 39,654,385, arguing that widening their access to public contracts would boost local production and create jobs. He added that a draft National Policy on MSMEs for 2026 to 2030, which treats public procurement as a key tool for growing enterprises and building local content, was still awaiting the Federal Executive Council's approval. The World Bank's Country Director for Nigeria, Matthew Verghis, also said widening MSME participation in government procurement would sharpen competition and make public spending more efficient. The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, urged young Nigerians to build the right skills and position themselves to take advantage of these opportunities.