In a push to drive inclusive economic development, DO Take Action—a nonprofit initiative aimed at mobilizing over a billion Africans for transformative change—is joining forces with the World Bank to host its first-ever Women Conference 2025 in Abuja.
The event, set for Tuesday, May 13, 2025, carries the theme “Scaling Up Impact: Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Affirmative Procurement.” It will serve as a rallying point for a 30% procurement quota to be allocated to businesses owned or led by women across Nigeria.
Expected to draw more than 700 attendees—including women entrepreneurs, procurement experts, development agencies, and civil society leaders—the conference will highlight policy shifts, collaborative frameworks, and procurement reforms that can elevate women’s roles in both public and private sector contracting.
Precious Ebere Chinonso-Obi, Co-Founder of DO Take Action, emphasized the untapped potential of female-led enterprises, which currently represent nearly 40% of Nigeria’s business landscape yet remain underrepresented in procurement spaces.
“We are advocating for clear policy measures—starting with a 30% procurement allocation—to create a more equitable environment for women entrepreneurs,” she stated. “Our goal is to ignite national dialogue and drive meaningful reforms through Gender-Responsive Procurement (GRP), giving Women-Owned and Led Businesses (WOLBs) better access to economic opportunities.”
The conference is open to a wide array of participants, including government bodies, donor organizations, advocacy groups, and media representatives. The agenda includes keynote addresses, expert panels, interactive discussions, storytelling sessions, and a curated showcase of women-led innovations.
As part of the broader Scaling Women Economic Empowerment through Procurement (SWEEP) initiative, the event will assess ongoing progress, celebrate achievements, and chart out actionable solutions for systemic change.
Key sessions will include business matchmaking opportunities and exhibitions, aiming to connect women entrepreneurs with stakeholders and potential partners.
Organizers stress that meeting the 30% affirmative procurement goal will require firm political backing, transparency in implementation, and dedicated procurement channels tailored to empower women in business.
