Uba Sani hailed as champion of inclusive politics, women empowerment

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has been described as a leading advocate of inclusive politics, women empowerment, and gender-friendly governance in Nigeria.

The Director General of the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority (KADPPA), Engr. Sanusi Yero, made this known during a press briefing on Wednesday, where he commended the governor’s commitment to promoting gender equality through progressive policies and reforms.

According to Yero, Governor Uba Sani’s efforts have earned him several awards and recognitions at both national and international levels. He recalled that at the 9th Voice of Women Conference and Awards (VOW2025) held recently in Abuja, KADPPA won the award for “The Government Agency Supporting Women and Their Families.”

He attributed the achievement to the governor’s strong political will, institutional backing, and visionary policy direction, adding that the recognition rightly belongs to Governor Uba Sani for his leadership in advancing women’s participation in governance and business.

Yero highlighted that Kaduna State, under Uba Sani’s leadership, has implemented a Gender-Responsive Procurement Policy — the first of its kind by any subnational government in Nigeria.

He explained that the policy provides both financial and reservation benefits for women-owned businesses, in line with global best practices.

Under the financial benefits, KADPPA has waived all registration fees for women-owned enterprises and reduced non-refundable tender fees by 50 percent. Additionally, the registration fees with other government agencies have also been cut by half to further support women entrepreneurs.

Yero added that the policy also includes reservation benefits, designed to give women greater access to public procurement opportunities.

He stated that 20 percent of all goods contracts, 10 percent of consulting contracts, and 5 percent of works contracts are now reserved for women-owned businesses.

Furthermore, in cases where bids receive no responses, women-owned companies will be given priority consideration during the relaunch of the bidding process.

The DG revealed that KADPPA has established a dedicated Gender-Responsive Department, while all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) now have Gender-Responsive Desk Officers to ensure compliance with the policy.

Engr. Yero emphasized that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has institutionalized affirmative action aimed at tackling systemic discrimination against women, ensuring they have equal access to opportunities in governance and the economy.

He reaffirmed KADPPA’s commitment to sustaining and expanding these initiatives, saying, “Kaduna State Government, through KADPPA, is humbled by this recognition, and we pledge to do even more in promoting women empowerment under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani.”