*Empowering Nigerian Women through Financial Security*

 *Empowering Nigerian Women through Financial Security*

Nestlé Nigeria's "Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project" has transformed the lives of 282 women across five geopolitical zones, providing training, mentorship, and grants to scale up their businesses.

Nestlé, Making MORE Nigerian Women Financially SecureWith its ongoing commitment to empowering rural women, Nestlé Nigeria is making a tangible difference in the lives of Nigerian women, fostering financial security and economic growth.

Thirty-two women from Ikorodu have joined the 250 beneficiaries of Nestlé 

Nigeria’s Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project through which Nestlé is 

helping rural women in Nigeria build financial security to improve their standard of living. 

This is achieved through training, mentorship, and grants in form of Nestlé products. Beneficiaries of the program are female retailers in  Rural Women in Nigeria aims to helpbeneficiaries scale up their businesses and sustain the new level of up to three times the size of their existing businesses. Each beneficiary receives grants valued at 300% of their 

monthly sales in form of Nestlé products, business training and a 3-month mentorship program. Each beneficiary is linked to a mentor for one-on-one coaching over the three months, to ensure their success. 

At the induction of the thirty-two new beneficiaries in Ikorodu recently, Nestlé 

Nigeria’s Commercial Manager, Mr. Khaled Ramadan said, “We are pleased with the success of the 250 beneficiaries of Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in 

Nigeria and are delighted by the opportunity to include 32 more today. 

With this addition, 282 women across five geopolitical zones of Nigeria now have a unique opportunity to scale up their businesses by 300%. We are confident that the new beneficiaries will also transform their businesses, making the best use of thesupport Nestlé is providing through training, mentorship and grants in form of Nestlé products.”

Mr. Phranklin Audu, Head, Partnerships & Training at FDConsults, implementation 

partner of Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project said, “As an NGO focused on empowering people to improve their livelihoods, we are thrilled by the impact of this project on rural communities. Over 80% of the beneficiaries have seen their incomes grow and can support their families better. One of them is Blessing Abayi, a single mother from Bauchi. Blessing used to struggle with paying her children’s school fees, but after three months in the program, she told us that for the first time, she paid the fees in full and on time, thanks to her growing business. We are inspired by her story and others like it.”

FDConsults is an NGO with a record of equipping businesspeople in rural areas 

with the information and skills they need to increase their household income and

improve their standards of living. 

The inclusion in Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria was well received by the beneficiaries in Ikorodu. One of them, Mrs. Olubunmi Adeoye, expressed her gratitude to Nestlé for the opportunity to be part of the project. “I am so happy that Nestlé chose me to benefit from this program. It is a wonderful opportunity,” 

she said. Another beneficiary, Mrs. Bukola Ajala, praised Nestlé for the 

empowerment and the free goods they provided, saying, “I have not seen any 

empowerment like this before. I know I am going to the next level.”

Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project began in August 2021, with 50 female retailers from the suburbs of Abuja. The program has expanded to include more women from the South-East, North-East, South-South, and SouthWest, including Lagos. Over 80% of beneficiaries have reported an increase of 100% to 200% in their business growth within three months of joining the program.

The best performing beneficiary, Mrs. Oghenetega Delight Jombo, of Jombo 

Stores, Port Harcourt, reached a business growth of 675% within 6 months of joining the program, and has sustained a monthly turnover of over N547,623.67

since.

 Nestlé supports rural women retailers in Nigeria to grow their businesses 

Since August 2021, Nestlé Nigeria has helped 332 women to scale up their businesses by 300% and to sustain the new level through the Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in 

Nigeria Project. The beneficiaries are women within Nestlé Nigeria’s value chain, running small businesses in rural areas across Nigeria. 

Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria by helping them build financial security to improve their livelihoods is one of the ways through which Nestlé Nigeria is Creating Shared Value along its value chain. The program was established to help beneficiaries scale up their businesses and sustain the new level of up to three times the size of their existing businesses. 

This objective is achieved through business training covering merchandizing, bookkeeping and customer service, mentorship and coaching in addition to grants in form of 

Nestlé products valued at 300% of their monthly sales at the time of joining the program. 

The beneficiaries are subsequently registered in a 3-month mentorship program and each woman is linked to a personal mentor for one-on-one coaching to ensure adoption of the 

key learnings from the training received to achieve the desired success. Over 60% of the beneficiaries achieve the 300% target growth within the 3-month coaching period!

Aminat Kolawole is one of the 332 women across the country, supported by Nestlé Nigeria to scale up their businesses through the Nestlé Rural Women empowerment Program. Aminat, an indigene of Batoro community in Ogun state, has been running a 

small business for 8 years in Sagamu, where she sells food and beverages, toiletries, drinks, house-hold consumables among others. She is excited that her business, Idera 

Oluwa stores, was selected for the project. “I believe that this opportunity will provide the necessary knowledge and resources to grow my business so I can earn more money to 

support my family and cater for my children’s education”.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 7th batch into the Project in Sagamu, Nestlé Nigeria’s Commercial Manager, Khaled Ramadan, said “Creating shared value within our communities is core in the way we do business. At Nestlé, we strive to make positive impact on society while ensuring the sustainability of our business. The Rural Women Empowerment Program is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of value creation. 

The stories and testimonials from previous beneficiaries, particularly 100% to 200% business growth within three months of joining the program, encourages us to do more. 

Onboarding women from Sagamu, one of our host communities, is a significant milestone in our commitment to empowerment and sustainable development and we are proud to 

have an opportunity to make a tangible difference in their lives”.

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Phranklin Audu, Lead Facilitator & Head, Strategic 

Partnerships at FDConsults, implementation partner of Nestlé Empowering Rural Women 

in Nigeria Project said, “We have amazing testimonials from previous beneficiaries. 

Through this project, Nestlé continues to help solve the challenge of poverty by 

empowering rural women across Nigerian communities, lifting them off the poverty pectrum and improving their livelihoods. We are delighted to be project partners for the 

training and mentoring on this credible initiative”.

According to Kabiesi Odofin Soyindo who represented the Akarigbo of Remoland, HRM Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, “I commend Nestlé for this sustainable venture and 

empowerment of Sagamu women. This is a noble initiative, and we are glad that our community is benefitting from corporate programs 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”.

Expressing her delight on behalf of other beneficiaries, Aminat said, “We are greatly pleased at the opportunity to be included in this program. We are looking forward to the learning and mentoring sessions which will equip us to run our businesses more effectively. A big thank you to Nestlé for investing in us. Our promise to the company is 

that we will maximize this opportunity for the benefit of our families and communities”.

For Folasade Ogunjimi of Save Way Stores Sagamu, another beneficiary of the program, “This is the first time a company is bringing this amazing initiative to retailers in Sagamu 

in my 25 years of running this business. We sincerely appreciate this well planned and considerate gesture by Nestlé towards supporting and expanding our businesses”. 

Community leaders, including the Vice Chairman of Sagamu Local Government Area and Executive members of the Royal Initiative for the Development of Sagamu Community, RIDSCO, also attended the event.

Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project began in August 2021, with 50 female retailers from the suburbs of Abuja. Currently, 332 women from the South-East, North-East, South-South and South-West regions of the country are benefitting from the 

program. Over 80% of the beneficiaries have seen their incomes grow and can support their families better.

Through the program, Nestlé is helping rural women in Nigeria build financial security to improve their standard of living. 

  Nestlé Professional Empowers Local Food Vendors in Sokoto

Nestlé Professional, the Out of Home business arm of Nestlé Nigeria and a leading provider of food solutions, continued its initiative to boost the local economy among food vendors in Nigeria through the Business of Food workshop in Sokoto. Now in its 8th edition, this empowerment program has transformed and equipped over 1,900 food businesses across seven states with essential skills and knowledge to enhance their businesses and increase their income. 

Canteens, grillers, Maishais, and bukas play an essential role in serving low-income communities in Nigeria, making this one of the fastest-growing sectors catering to the needs of Nigerian consumers. Despite their importance in providing daily nutrition to bustling urban areas, these food vendors often lack the necessary support to thrive. The aim of the empowerment program is to help them improve their businesses through networking, upskilling, and training on crucial aspects of the food industry, including culinary techniques, menu planning, customer engagement, and, most importantly, good hygiene practices.

Mrs. Funmi Osineye, Business Manager for Nestlé Professional in Nigeria, stated: "We are thrilled to bring this Business of Food workshop to Sokoto because we recognize that the business of food extends beyond preparing delicious meals. It involves a focus on nutrition, pricing, presentation, taste, and hygiene. Our goal is to support food vendors of all sizes by providing them with the knowledge and tools derived from our global insights and local experience. We are confident this will foster lasting change and growth within the local food vendor community, as witnessed in previous locations."

One of the highlights from the half-day training session was a masterclass by Chef Faridah on the preparation of Masa and Miyan Duka, a dish that embodies the essence of northern Nigerian culinary traditions, offering a taste of tradition, history, and community. The event also featured an exciting cooking competition where the teams— ‘Chicken’ and ‘Star’—competed to create the best jollof spaghetti dish.

Mrs. Osineye assured participants that Nestlé Professional remains committed to supporting the growth and success of food vendors in Nigeria. “We aim to make more possible by uplifting the local food industry, promoting entrepreneurship, and creating a positive impact in communities.”

With over 2,300 direct employees, 3 factories and 7 branch offices across Nigeria, Nestlé produces and markets iconic brands including Maggi, Milo, Golden Morn, Nestlé Pure Life and Cerelac.