From Umar Dankano,Yola.
Forty(40) Women including those with special needs (PLWD) were trained on open contracting procedures with a view to improving gender equality and social inclusion in public procurement processes in Adamawa state.
The interactive training (Workshop) held in Yola on Friday was organised by an International Non -Governmental Organisation under the aegis ‘Public and Private Development Centre'(PPDC) in conjunction with MacArthur Foundation in which majorly women groups participated actively.
In her welcome address, Program Officer of the public and private Development Centre (PPDC) Chinonye Akubuo said the Centre observed with dismay the almost non participatory culture of women and people living with disabilities in implementing government policies like procurement processes in the country.
Akubuo stated that the training is a contribution of the Centre in changing the narrative solely to sensitise the participants (mostly Women) on how to track down the cogent procedures and technicalities involved in contracting policies of the government at all levels.
Akubuo expressed optimism that with the awareness packages been disseminated by the Centre and its partners across the country,women participation and transparency in the open contracting processes are guaranteed.
While advising the participants to be visiting Bureau for Public Procurement for informations about government contracts announcing that is every citizen’s right to know how government spend their money.
In his presentation christened ‘Tools used to demand Accountability ‘,Program Director of the Centre (PPDC),Onyekachi Chukwu introduced the participants to public procurement laws(PPL),Access to Information Laws-FOI ACT.
Chukwu said open contracting can be beneficial to SMEs so as to ensure inclusivity reiterating that the procurement legislations if implemented provide equal opportunity for all citizens .
According to him,with the knowledge impacted on the participants,they can push through bottle necks for domestication of such procurement laws in the state like in Ekiti state where contracts are awarded to deserving citizens without nepotism and corruption.
A participant of the training,Maryam Usman Mairiga of the Rayna Handmade Coconut oil Venture Yola expressed gratitude to the organisers of the training for the knowledge impacted on them confessing that initially she thought government contracts are purely for men.
“I am grateful for the opportunity as I understand now that contracts are not only for men but women can also be contractors.Being a contractor doesn’t mean you will carry building blocks on your head.
“We now know what procurement is and its processes,stages and laws governing it .We were exposed to contract’s bidding,planning as well as implementation stage respectively “.Mairiga recounted.
