Key Takeaways
- Nestlé Nigeria’s Empowering Rural Women Initiative reached its 10th edition in Zaria, Kaduna State, supporting 50 women-led retail businesses.
- Beneficiaries receive business training and Nestlé product grants valued at three times their existing stock, plus a three-month mentorship programme.
- The initiative has now supported 482 women across Nigeria since 2021, with more than 80% of past beneficiaries sustaining or growing their businesses.
Five years after launching its Empowering Rural Women Initiative, Nestlé Nigeria continues to expand support for women-led businesses. The latest intervention took place in Zaria, Kaduna State, where 50 retailers received business training and product grants to strengthen their enterprises.
This 10th edition equipped participants with practical skills in bookkeeping, stock management, merchandising, financial management, and customer service. Each woman also received Nestlé products valued at three times the value of her existing stock, giving beneficiaries a significant boost in inventory and earning capacity.
A Structured Path to Growth
The Zaria intervention marks the beginning of a three-month mentorship programme designed to help the women apply their new skills, manage the additional inventory, and build more sustainable businesses. Mentors will guide participants as they reinvest profits, expand customer bases, and improve daily operations.
Launched in 2021, the initiative targets women retailers who have the drive to grow their businesses but limited access to training, mentorship, and growth capital. With the addition of the Zaria beneficiaries, the programme has now reached 482 women across Nigerian communities, up from 432 before the latest intervention.
Impact on Nigeria's Retail Economy
Nestlé said monitoring of previous beneficiaries shows that more than 80 percent have sustained or grown their businesses beyond the initial support. Many have reportedly increased inventories and turnover, attracted more customers, and strengthened their financial and business management practices.
The programme comes against the backdrop of the critical role women play in Nigeria’s retail economy, particularly in rural and underserved communities, where small retailers provide a vital link between consumers and larger markets.
Speaking at the Zaria event, Boladale Odunlami, Commercial Manager at Nestlé Nigeria, said women are central to the company’s retail network and deserve opportunities to grow alongside the business. "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. He added that the initiative was designed to turn women retailers into stronger entrepreneurs while reinforcing the company’s distribution network.
Five Years of Shared Value
Beyond immediate stock support, the mentorship phase is expected to be critical to the programme’s long-term impact. Participants will also be encouraged to share experiences and build networks that can continue beyond the formal three-month mentorship period.
Reflecting on the initiative’s five-year journey, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, said its success should be measured by what beneficiaries achieve after receiving support. "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 said. "Five years on, we are seeing women sustain their growth, expand their businesses and create greater economic security for themselves and their families."
According to her, the initiative demonstrates Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value approach, where investment in communities also strengthens the company’s business ecosystem. "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," she said.
The Zaria edition was implemented with the support of Nestlé Nigeria’s partners and local distributors, who will remain engaged with the beneficiaries during the mentorship period.
Why This Matters
This initiative illustrates how targeted corporate investment in women’s entrepreneurship can generate measurable economic benefits for both communities and companies. By pairing training with product grants and sustained mentorship, Nestlé Nigeria is creating a replicable model for inclusive retail growth in rural markets.