By Obinna Odogwu
Various arguments have been advanced on why special considerations should always be extended to women and girls during the distribution or allocation of values in society.
This is, perhaps, because of the barriers that limit their career progression and economic participation.
This argument has also been strengthened by the invaluable contributions of women to the socioeconomic growth and development of the global society.
Although significant progress has been recorded in the recent time with women gaining many legal rights and access to economic opportunities compared to the situation in the past, no record shows that gender equity has been achieved.
According to the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report released by the World Economic Forum, it will take an estimated 132 years to close the global economic gender gap.
In Nigeria, lack of access to capital remains one of the major barriers hindering women from achieving economic prosperity.
According to a study that surveyed hundreds of thousands of women across Nigeria, 62 per cent identified a lack of start-up capital or equipment as their biggest obstacle to achieving their business ambitions.
Nestlé Nigeria’s interventions
Feeling concerned about the financial constraints and other economic challenges faced by women in business, particularly those who operate in rural communities, Nestlé, a leading food and beverage company, in August 2021 launched a project called Empowering Rural Women Initiative.
The project was designed to scale up their retail businesses through training, mentorship, and business coaching, as well as grants in form of Nestlé products valued at 300 per cent of their monthly sales at the time of joining the programme.
The training course, designed to last for three months for each cohort, covers bookkeeping, merchandising, stock management, financial management, and customer service.
At the launch of the initiative in Abuja, 50 female retailers who were carefully selected from the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – Kubwa, Nyanya, and Gwagwalada – were empowered.
And in line with the project’s design, the company provided three times the monthly turnover of each of the 50 selected female retailers in form of Nestlé products at no cost to the recipients.
The intervention also marked the beginning of a three-month mentorship programme designed to help the women apply their training, manage the additional stock effectively, and build stronger and more sustainable businesses.
Speaking at the project’s launch in August 2021, the then Commercial Manager of the company in Nigeria, Mr. Khaled Ramadan, disclosed that the empowerment initiative was aimed at making significant contributions to the well-being of the selected retailers who already have a business relationship with Nestlé.
He expressed confidence that the support provided by the company through training, mentorship, and grants would go a long way towards helping them improve their standards of living by increasing their sales outputs and income.
“We are excited to see the start of the implementation of this first phase of the project. And we look forward to the eventual scale up to reach more women across Nigeria”, Ramadan had said at the event.
He has, however, been appointed by Nestlé Kenya Limited as the new Managing Director and Head for East & Horn of Africa, and Greater Zambezi markets, which is a part of Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR).
A statement from Nestlé Kenya showed that Ramadan assumed his new role on August 1, 2024, and now oversees operations in 16 countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia among others.
The current Commercial Manager at Nestlé Nigeria, Boladale Odunlami, at a recent event, re-echoed the rationale behind the company’s empowerment initiative for women, explaining that Nestlé appreciated and still appreciates their contributions to its business growth.
“Women account for approximately 60 per cent of the retailers in Nestlé Nigeria’s retail network. Every day, they help us reach consumers, build trust within communities and keep our businesses moving”, he stated.
“Their contribution is significant, and we value them as important business partners. The Empowering Rural Women Initiative reflects our belief that the women who contribute to our growth should have the opportunity to grow with us.
“By investing in their skills and strengthening their businesses, we are helping them increase their earning potential while building a stronger, more capable and more resilient retail network”, he added.
Odunlami argued that across Nigeria, women entrepreneurs sustain local commerce, support household incomes and ensure that every day products reach their communities, particularly in areas where small retailers provide an important connection between consumers and larger markets.
He pointed out that the three-month business training and mentorship was provided by the company’s implementation partners who have track records of helping rural dwellers access information and skills to improve their living standards.
He explained that each of the retailers was assigned mentors for additional guidance and consistent support throughout the mentorship duration to ensure their success.
The Lead Trainer and Head of Partnerships at Straplan Advisory Ltd, Phranklin Audu, in his remarks, said that for Nestlé, the “overarching goal was to ensure that the selected beneficiaries would be able to triple their income and ultimately improve their livelihoods.”
He commended the company for the laudable project, hoping that it would be sustained and replicated across the 36 states of the federation.
Sustenance of the empowerment initiative
Nestlé Nigeria sustained and replicated the project by launching it in the South West region of the country in November 2021, just about three months after the first launch in Abuja.
In the South West, additional 50 female retailers were selected from Osun and Ekiti States, bringing the number to 100.
Like their counterparts in Abuja, the South West women were also given Nestlé products valued at 300 per cent of their monthly sales free of charge.
They also participated in the training and mentorship programmes to enable them to scale up their businesses, thereby increasing their household incomes.
“We are happy to fulfil our promise of expanding Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria initiative to reach more women in other parts of Nigeria”, Ramadan had told the excited beneficiaries.
The company further extended this all-important empowerment initiative to other parts of the country, including: Enugu, Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Kaduna, Cross River, Abia, Bauchi, Lagos, and others.
The empowerment project got to Enugu State in February 2022 and 50 beneficiaries were selected from Nsukka and Obolo-Afor areas of the state. That brought the total figure of the beneficiaries at the time to 150.
In June and September the same year, Nestlé took the project to Rivers and Bauchi States respectively where an additional 50 women were selected from each of the states and empowered; bringing the total figure to 250.
In May 2023, additional 32 women were selected and inducted at Ikorodu area of Lagos State; and in September the same year, another set of 50 women from Sagamu were trained and empowered; bringing the number to 332.
Nestlé Nigeria’s empowerment of additional 50 women in Calabar, Cross River State capital in December 2024 brought the total number of the beneficiaries to 382.
The figure further moved up to 431 when the Good food, Good life company took the empowerment initiative to Agbara in Ogun State in July 2025 where it added 49 new women to the list of its beneficiaries.
In August 2026, Nestlé Nigeria marked the fifth anniversary and 10th edition of its Empowering Rural Women Initiative by supporting 50 women retailers in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Like those who had come before them, the Zaria women were also given practical business training and grants in the form of Nestlé products valued at three times their existing stock. The Zaria event brought the total number of the beneficiaries to 482.
In essence, Nestlé Nigeria celebrated five years of empowering and uplifting a total of 482 female retailers in rural communities across the country.
Interestingly, programme monitoring shows that more than 80 per cent of participants from previous cohorts have sustained and grown their businesses beyond the initial stock boost provided through the initiative.
Many of them now operate at a significantly higher level than when they joined the empowerment initiative, with larger inventories, higher turnover, more customers and stronger financial and business-management practices.
The Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, while reflecting on the programme’s five-year journey, said that the true measure of the empowerment initiative was not the support the company provided, but what the women were able to build with it.
“Five years on, we are seeing women sustain their growth, expand their businesses and create greater economic security for themselves and for their families”, Uwadoka said with satisfaction.
“That is Creating Shared Value in action. As these women build stronger businesses and better livelihoods, they also strengthen the retail network that connects Nestlé to communities across Nigeria.
“It is a model in which progress for the women and progress for our business reinforce each other, turning an initial investment into lasting value”, she added.
Testimonials and impacts of the empowerment initiative
The women who were empowered by Nestlé Nigeria did not hide their joy when the Good food, Good life company extended its support to them. And they have remained very grateful to the company for adding values to their lives and businesses.
They have also shared interesting stories of how the empowerment package catapulted their businesses to the next level.
For example, in Calabar, capital of Cross River State, Mrs. Favour Effiong, expressed delight at what Nestlé did for her, saying that her journey with the company has been “incredibly productive.”
Effiong, who owns Favour Stores, revealed that the training and grant she received from the company contributed positively to her business.
“I can’t thank Nestlé enough for this investment in my business”, she added.
In Batoro community in Ogun State, Mrs Aminat Kolawole who runs Idera Oluwa Stores was excited about the company’s contributions to her business.
Kolawole, who sells beverages, toiletries, drinks, and other household consumables, was particularly happy that the support came at a time she was making efforts to expand her business.
“I am greatly pleased at the opportunity to be included in this programme”, she had said, promising to maximise the opportunity for the benefit of her family and the community.
Another beneficiary of the empowerment initiative, Folasade Ogunjimi, was also excited about Nestlé Nigeria’s contributions to the growth of her business.
Like Kolawole, Ogunjimi said that the impact of the company’s support was visible in her Save Way Stores in Sagamu.
Ogunjimi, who revealed that she had been running her Sagamu stores for over 25 years, said that Nestlé Nigeria’s empowerment programme in that area was the first time she was experiencing such from a company in more than two and half decades.
“We sincerely appreciate this gesture by Nestlé towards supporting and expanding our businesses”, she added.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, Mrs Delight Jombo Oghenetega could not conceal her excitement about the ‘jumbo’ package delivered to her Jombo Stores by Nestlé Nigeria.
Oghenetega’s counterpart in Obolo-Afor area of Enugu State, Mrs. Peace Eze, was equally very grateful to the company for extending the kind gesture to her and her colleagues in that part of the state.
She said that she found the training aspect of the initiative very useful because the knowledge she garnered from there would help accelerate her business growth.
“With what we were taught today, I now have the knowledge to support my business to grow”, she said.
“And with the help of the goods that Nestlé has also given to us, I have everything I need to make my business succeed. I thank Nestlé for this important initiative. I believe it will help all the women benefiting from it”, Eze added.
One of the beneficiaries at Agbara, Mrs. Eniola Fausat, expressed her gratitude to Nestlé for the empowerment package, assuring that she would put the opportunity to good use.
Fausat said: “This opportunity has opened my eyes to what is possible in my business. With the training and support, I am now more confident that I can improve my shop and better support my family. I thank Nestlé and the Alagbara for believing in us.”
Royal fathers, others laud Nestlé Nigeria
Some of the traditional rulers whose subjects benefited from the Nestlé Nigeria’s empowerment initiative took turns to commend the Good food, Good life company for the kind gestures.
Some local leaders and government officials also applauded Nestlé, describing the initiative as “a good corporate social responsibility worthy of emulation by others.”
On behalf of the Alagbara of Agbara, His Royal Highness Oba Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade JP, Olori Adeola Agunbiade commended Nestlé’s enduring relationship with the community and encouraged the women to make the best of the opportunity.
“Our community enjoys a peaceful and respectful relationship with Nestlé, which enables us to work together effectively on community-led initiatives like the women empowerment programme”, he said.
“We are delighted to see the women we have carefully selected from our community benefit from this programme, whose impact we have heard about.”
The traditional ruler urged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the training to build something lasting for themselves and for their families.
He also assured Nestlé Nigeria of the community’s commitment to co-owning the project, which he said would further strengthen the company’s long-standing bond with the people of Agbara.
For the Akarigbo of Remoland, HRM Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, the women empowerment initiative by Nestlé Nigeria was a good one.
The monarch, who was represented at the event in his community by Kabiyesi Odofin Soyindo, commended Nestlé for the sustainable venture and empowerment of Sagamu women.
“This is a noble initiative, and we are glad that our community is benefitting from corporate programmes like this from Nestlé.
“To the beneficiaries, I urge you to establish your priorities and judiciously use the grants provided to you for the expansion of your businesses”, he concluded.
In Cross River, the Vice Chairman of Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Hon. Chris Effiong, and the Paramount Ruler of Akpabuyo, His Royal Highness Etinyin Francis Edem Efa, praised Nestlé for its impactful intervention.
They also urged the beneficiaries to utilize the grants wisely to expand their businesses and contribute to the growth of their local economy.
