Ogun trains SMES to boost chances of winning govt contracts
The Ogun state government has released guidelines it hopes will increase the participation of Small and Medium Enterprises ( SMES) in Public Procurements or contracts awarded by the State government, going further to organise a training to get them acquainted with it.
The state’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Planning recently held a training for SMES in order to acquaint them with the modus operandi of bidding for government contracts and enhancing their chances of winning such contracts. The next training has been scheduled to hold today, Friday 25th September, 2020 at 10am.
Kikelomo Longe, commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, said during the previous virtual training that contrary to perception among different small businesses that government contracts could only be won by large companies especially those with strong connections, they could indeed win contracts from the government if stipulated guidelines are followed. She also assured SMES that the training would enlighten them and address challenges hindering their ability to effectively bid and win government contracts.
“These guidelines seek to address the challenges inhibiting SMES’ ability to take advantage of Government procurements/ contracts by providing solutions accordingly which will help guide SMES to avoid common errors being made in bidding,” she said in a statement.
Longer called on the various Business Membership Organisations to continue to synergize with the present administration by organizing more trainings and workshops to educate their members on all aspects of the Ogun State Public Procurement Act, 2020.
Olaolu Olabimtan, commissioner for Budget and Planning, also reiterated that the present administration remains focused on ensuring government contracts are awarded based on global best practices assuring that successfully bidding for contracts is not based on party membership or any form of government patronage.
Some participants at the training were noted in a statement, to have lauded the present administration for the introduction of what they call a fair process in the award of public procurements and contracts stressing that government should continue to carry various Business Membership Organisations along to enable more SMES benefit from the policy.
Olu-ola Aikulola, permanent secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, encouraged SMES to embrace the opportunity of improving their chances of winning government contracts by participating in the next training which holds today.