The 7th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Summit, held on July 3, 2025, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, featured a dynamic women-only panel that ignited discussions on gender equity, urging mentorship and policy reforms to empower women in supply chains.
The summit convened industry leaders, government officials, and experts from across the continent to shape the future of procurement under the theme “Driving Impact through Innovation: The Future of Procurement & Supply Chain in Africa.”
The panel, which was anchored by Carol Opata-Hogan, Executive Director of InstinctWave, included Unwana Utuk (Supply Chain Expert), Nkechi Esechie (Business Procurement Manager, Pladis Foods Nigeria), Gloria Nyanteh (Head of Procurement, National Petroleum Authority, Ghana), and Lucy James Abagi (CEO, Public and Private Development Centre).
When asked about her journey, Lucy James Abagi shared, “At PPDC, we enhance women’s participation in public procurement through gender-responsive strategies. Our work with UN Women revealed barriers like lack of compliance, prompting tailored training to boost women’s capacity.” Gloria Nyanteh, reflecting on her path, said, “Procurement wasn’t my plan, but 15 years at NPA showed me its dynamic, regulated nature. It’s not monotonous; every procurement teaches something new
