Benita Kpentomun is a 26-year-old single mother of two who resides in Nyimangbah, Vandeikya, Benue state. Her journey hasn’t been easy; she had to leave Markurdi, where she lived with her Pastor father, due to a strained relationship with her family after becoming pregnant with her first child. With her second child in tow and no support from her parents, Benita knew she had a tough road ahead. She decided to venture into petty trading, using the little she had saved. She buys goods from the city and sells them in her local community to support her small family.
Yosi Gumwak, from Anguwan Layi Lassa in Michika, Adamawa, faced a similar unexpected challenge. She became the sole breadwinner for her family when her husband, a farmer, fell victim to the Boko Haram invasion in Michika in 2014. Her husband’s vast farmland was seized by his family, leaving Yosi with four children to care for and no clear path ahead. With support from a few friends and family, she started her own petty trading business. Yosi’s determination not only sustained her family but also allowed her oldest child to pursue a higher education at the University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID.
Just like Benita and Yosi, there are thousands, if not millions of women in rural areas across Nigeria who bear the responsibility of providing for their families. Because of women like this, the importance of increasing women’s economic empowerment cannot be overstated. It not only enhances their influence within their households but also boosts their participation in economic activities and enhances their overall well-being, as recognized by the United Nations Women in 2018. This commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment is echoed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 and 8, which see it as a fundamental human right and development goal.
Despite the overwhelming evidence that empowering women leads to broader societal benefits, progress in gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), has been disappointingly slow, as noted by the African Union in 2020. To address this, nations worldwide unanimously established the ‘No Poverty’ goal as the first of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed to transform the world.
States and non-state actors are making concerted efforts to increase resources and services aimed at reducing poverty’s impact on vulnerable groups, including women and children, as well as supporting communities affected by conflict and climate-related disasters.
Nestle Nigeria is one of these actors. It is in this context that Nestle Nigeria has taken a commendable step by inaugurating the 7th batch of its Rural Women in Nigeria Project in Sagamu. This initiative aims to assist women in scaling up their businesses, enabling them to expand their enterprises up to three times their current size.
Currently, 332 women from the South-East, North-East, South-South, and South-West regions of the country are benefitting from the programme, with over 80% of those women witnessing substantial growth in their incomes, enabling them to better support their families.
The progress was made possible through a holistic approach Nestle Nigeria adopted where it combines vital components. These include comprehensive business training covering essential skills like merchandising, bookkeeping, and customer service, along with invaluable mentorship and coaching. In addition to these essential elements, the beneficiaries also receive grants in the form of Nestlé products. These women are integral to Nestlé Nigeria’s value chain, running small businesses in the rural corners of our nation.
As part of this project, each beneficiary receives grants equivalent to 300% of their monthly sales, provided in the form of Nestlé products. This is coupled with a three-month mentorship programme and one-on-one coaching with a dedicated mentor over this period, ensuring their sustained success.
One of these empowered women is Aminat Kolawole. Aminat hails from the Batoro community in Ogun state and has been operating her small business, Idera Oluwa Stores, for the past eight years in Sagamu. Speaking with genuine enthusiasm about her selection as a beneficiary of this transformative project, she shared, “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 to my children’s education.”
At the inauguration of the 7th batch into the project in Sagamu, Khaled Ramadan, Nestlé Nigeria’s Commercial Manager, emphasized the company’s commitment to creating shared value within communities. Creating shared value within our communities is core to the way we do business. “At Nestlé, we strive to make a positive impact on society while ensuring the sustainability of our business. The Rural Women Empowerment Programme 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, encourage 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”.
Nestlé’s partnership with FDConsults, the implementation partner for the Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project, has yielded remarkable results. According to Mr. Phranklin Audu, Lead Facilitator and Head of Strategic Partnerships at FDConsults, this initiative is playing a pivotal role in lifting rural women out of poverty and enhancing their livelihoods. These initiatives receive praise from community leaders as well, like Kabiesi Odofin Soyindo, who represented the Akarigbo of Remoland.
Moving to Ikorodu, Blessing Abayi’s story stands out. As a single mother from Bauchi, she had struggled with paying her children’s school fees. However, after three months in the programme, she proudly shared that, for the first time, she was able to pay the fees in full and on time, thanks to her growing business. Mrs. Olubunmi Adeoye, another beneficiary from Ikorodu, expressed her profound gratitude to Nestlé for this life-transforming opportunity. Mrs. Bukola Ajala echoed this sentiment, praising Nestlé for its empowerment efforts and the essential goods provided, affirming, “I have not seen any empowerment like this before. I know I am going to the next level.”
In Port Harcourt, the fourth phase of the Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project witnessed the induction of an additional 50 beneficiaries from the South-South region. These women were carefully selected from Nestlé’s value chain, and the ceremony included several training sessions to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive.
Nestlé’s commitment to advancing women is a demonstration of its belief in harnessing the potential of every individual, regardless of gender. This commitment not only promotes equality but also drives sustainable development. Its journey to empower women is a shining example of how innovation and dedication can create a brighter, more equitable future for all.
