Nestlé Nigeria has marked the fifth anniversary and 10th edition of its Empowering Rural Women Initiative with expansion into Zaria, Kaduna State, where 50 women retailers have received practical business training and product grants.
The event brings the total number of women entrepreneurs supported since the programme’s inception in 2021 to 482.
Before the Zaria edition, the initiative had empowered 432 women across various Nigerian communities.
According to the company’s statement, the intervention in Zaria also marks the start of a three-month mentorship period, during which participants will receive hands-on guidance to apply their training, manage their increased inventory effectively, and build more sustainable business operations.
The Empowering Rural Women Initiative targets female retailers who have demonstrated a strong determination to grow their businesses but face limited access to training, mentorship, and expansion resources.
The organisers said the programme monitoring reveals that more than 80 per cent of participants from earlier cohorts have successfully sustained and grown their ventures well beyond the initial stock boost, achieving larger inventories, higher turnover, expanded customer bases, and improved financial management practices.
Speaking at the Zaria event, Boladale Odunlami, Commercial Manager at Nestlé Nigeria, underscored the critical role women play in the company’s retail network and the broader economy.
“Women account for approximately 60% of the retailers in Nestlé Nigeria’s retail network. Every day, they help us reach consumers, build trust within communities and keep our business moving,” Odunlami said. “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.”
The comprehensive training program for the Zaria participants covered bookkeeping, merchandising, stock management, financial management, and customer service. Over the next three months, mentors will provide practical support as the women manage their increased stock, apply their newly acquired knowledge, and reinvest profits to drive continued growth. Participants were also encouraged to build peer networks that could provide ongoing support beyond the formal mentorship period.
Reflecting on the initiative’s five-year journey, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, emphasized the programme’s lasting impact.
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“The true measure of this initiative is not the support we provide on the day, but what the women go on to build with it,” Uwadoka stated.
“Five years on, we are seeing women sustain their growth, expand their businesses and create greater economic security for themselves and their families. 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.”
Across Nigeria, women entrepreneurs sustain local commerce, support household incomes, and ensure essential products reach their communities—particularly in areas where small retailers provide a vital link between consumers and larger markets.
The Zaria edition was delivered with the support of Nestlé Nigeria’s implementation partners and local distributors, who will remain engaged throughout the mentorship period to help participants translate their training into profitable business practices.
As the Empowering Rural Women Initiative enters its next chapter, Nestlé Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to building on the progress of the past five years and enabling more hardworking women across the country to develop stronger, more sustainable businesses.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X