eHealth Africa trains 213 women entrepreneurs to compete for institutional contracts

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

More than 200 women entrepreneurs from 11 Nigerian states have completed a procurement readiness programme designed to help women-owned businesses compete for institutional contracts, as organisations across Africa seek to broaden participation in formal supply chains.

The initiative, organised by eHealth Africa (eHA) in partnership with EHA Impact Ventures (EIV), trained 213 entrepreneurs through the Women Vendor Accelerator Programme, focusing on the skills and compliance requirements needed to access procurement opportunities within large organisations.

The programme comes as women-owned businesses across Africa continue to face barriers to winning institutional contracts, including limited understanding of procurement processes, weak professional networks and insufficient business development support.

Held on 17 June in a hybrid format, the training brought together participants from Kano, Abuja, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi and Niger states. Sessions covered vendor registration, procurement procedures, ethical business practices, business formalisation and strategies for securing institutional contracts.

Participants also engaged directly with procurement professionals to gain practical insight into supplier expectations and application requirements.

Speaking at the event, eHealth Africa’s Director of Finance and Administration, Dr Ben Igbinosa, said the programme aimed to make procurement systems more accessible to women entrepreneurs.

“Empowering women entrepreneurs requires more than good intentions; it requires deliberate action, equitable access and intentional investment in their capacity to compete,” he said.

He added that the organisation intends to create more opportunities for women-owned businesses to participate in its procurement processes and supply chains.

For EHA Impact Ventures, the programme forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen women-led enterprises beyond traditional financing.

Senior Coordinator for Executive Project Support at EHA Impact Ventures, Ramatu Abdullah, said the initiative was intended to help businesses become competitive suppliers while expanding their access to mentorship, business networks, market opportunities and financing.

One of the beneficiaries, Sumayyah Muhammad, founder of Skin Whispers NG, said the training had given her a clearer understanding of how to position her business for larger contract opportunities.

The Women Vendor Accelerator Programme was launched following a directive by the EHA Group Board to expand opportunities for women-owned businesses within the organisation’s supplier network. Participants were introduced to procurement opportunities across eHealth Africa, EHA Clinics and EHA Impact Ventures.

Organisers said the training represents the first phase of the programme. Participants are expected to receive additional support in the coming months, including guidance on meeting procurement requirements, vendor matching opportunities and access to financing facilitated through EHA Impact Ventures.

eHealth Africa has operated across Africa for more than 15 years, supporting governments and development partners with digital health and data-driven programmes in 26 countries.