Nestlé Nigeria Plc has marked five years of its Empowering Rural Women Initiative, a flagship women empowerment programme that has transformed the livelihoods of 482 women retailers across Nigeria.
The 10th edition of the initiative was held recently in Zaria, Kaduna State, where 50 women retailers were empowered with business training, mentorship and product grants valued at three times their existing stock.
Launched in 2021, the initiative targets women retailers who have shown determination to grow their businesses but face limited access to training, mentorship and capital for expansion.
Training, Grants and 3-Month Mentorship
Beneficiaries in Zaria received practical training in bookkeeping, stock and inventory management, merchandising, financial management and customer service — essential skills for running sustainable retail businesses.
Each woman also received Nestlé products worth 300% of her current stock size to help scale up sales and test the new skills acquired.
Beyond the grants, the programme includes a 3-month one-on-one mentorship period where each woman is linked to a personal mentor for coaching on how to manage the expanded inventory and build a more profitable and resilient enterprise.
Before Zaria, the programme had reached 432 women across Abuja, Ogun, Oyo, Abia, Enugu, Cross River, Kaduna and other communities. With the latest 50, the total now stands at 482 women.
Monitoring of previous cohorts shows that *over 80% of participants have sustained and grown their businesses* beyond the initial support, with larger inventories, higher turnover, more customers and stronger financial management practices. Over 60% achieved the 300% growth target within the mentorship period.
Why Women?
According to Nestlé, women account for about 60% of retailers in its retail network and play a critical role in sustaining local commerce, supporting household incomes and connecting products to rural and semi-urban communities.
Speaking at the Zaria edition, Boladale Odunlami, Commercial Manager, Nestlé Nigeria, said:
"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."
The programme is part of Nestlé's Creating Shared Value (CSV) approach — contributing to thriving communities while delivering long-term business benefits and aligns with SDG 5: Gender Equality.
The Corporate Communications Lead, Victoria Uwadoka, noted that the initiative is not a PR stunt but a commitment to building thriving communities, adding: "Empowered women are central to this objective."
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