Nestlé Nigeria has empowered 431 women living in rural communities within five years. This was announced in a statement, following the recent business training for 49 women in Agbara, Ogun under its flagship initiative, ‘Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria.’
“Now in its fifth year, the Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria project has empowered over 382 women across the country, enabling them to expand their businesses by as much as threefold.
“Through tailored business training, product grants, and mentorship, the initiative supports women in building more profitable retail ventures, reinforcing Nestlé’s commitment to inclusive growth at the community level.
“With the addition of the 49 new participants from Agbara, the project has now reached a total of 431 women,” the statement read.
During the opening ceremony in Agbara, Victoria Uwadoka, the firm’s Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Lead underscored the importance of the initiative, saying it was aimed at scaling retail operations by 300 percent.
“Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria is about creating genuine opportunities for women. Supporting rural women to scale their retail operations by up to 300% within just three months is not only beneficial for business but also essential for fostering a more inclusive economy, stronger families, and resilient communities,” she said.
She expressed the firm’s commitment to supporting the women, saying empowering women helps to fulfil the firm’s dream and build the economy.
“Opening new doors for hardworking women determined to build better futures for themselves and their families in Agbara holds significant meaning for us, as this community has been home to Nestlé Nigeria for over four decades.
“We have witnessed the transformative impact of structured training, mentorship, and business grants on the 382 women who have already benefited from this initiative, and we are confident that we will see more success stories emerge from Agbara. Through this initiative, we are not only supporting individual entrepreneurs; we are investing in ripple effects that will benefit the entire community,” she said.
In addition, Boladale Odunlami, the firm’s Commercial Manager said each participant will each receive product grants worth N200,000, adding it would help to improve their business turnover.
“At Nestlé, we are intentional about creating growth opportunities across every segment of our value chain. With product grants valued at up to 300% of their existing business size, participants have improved their turnover, increased revenue, and strengthened their community presence,” he said.
In his remarks, the Alagbara of Agbara, His Royal Highness Oba Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade JP, commended the firm for its enduring relationship with the community, encouraging the women to seize the opportunity.
“We are delighted to see the women we have carefully selected from our community benefit from this program, whose impact we have heard about. I urge every woman here today to take full advantage of this training to build something lasting for herself and her family,” he said.
