Empowering The Nurturers Of Tomorrow: How Nestlé Is Transforming Women’s Lives Across Nigeria
In every society, women are the nurturers of the future. They raise the next generation, drive the moral compass of their homes, and hold the fabric of their communities together. When women are empowered, nations rise. Nowhere is this truer than in Nigeria, where women make up nearly half of the population and play pivotal roles in agriculture, retail, and family welfare. Recognizing this, Nestlé Nigeria has, over the past five years, taken deliberate steps to uplift women, particularly those in rural areas, by giving them the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to thrive as entrepreneurs.
Through its flagship initiative, Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria, the company has created a powerful platform for women to move from small-scale, subsistence-level trading to sustainable, profitable businesses. As of 2025, Nestlé has empowered 431 women across various communities, offering business training, mentorship, and product grants that have allowed many of them to expand their enterprises by as much as 300 percent.
Building Stronger Women, Building a Stronger Nigeria
When Nestlé first launched the Empowering Rural Women project in 2021, the goal was clear: to help rural women develop the skills and resources to scale their retail operations. Each participant receives tailored business training in areas such as bookkeeping, customer service, and merchandising. They also benefit from three months of mentorship and product grants worth up to 300 percent of their current business size.
By focusing on women who already operate small retail businesses, the programme ensures that its impact is immediate and measurable. These are women who understand the challenges of running micro-enterprises in local communities—limited capital, little access to formal training, and no structured support. For them, the Nestlé initiative offers not just capital, but confidence.
Over the years, Nestlé’s efforts have yielded remarkable results. Many of the women trained have tripled their business turnover within months, improved their household income, and gained financial independence. Beyond the numbers, the real measure of success lies in the stories of transformation emerging from every corner of Nigeria.
Stories of Transformation
Aminat Kolawole: Rising from Retail to Role Model (South-West)
For Aminat Kolawole, a shop owner from Sagamu in Ogun State, survival once meant stretching every naira to restock her tiny store. Her shop—aptly named Idera Oluwa Stores—was a modest business serving her community. But after being selected to join the Nestlé Empowering Rural Women programme, Aminat’s story changed dramatically.
Through Nestlé’s business training, Aminat learned how to manage her finances better, improve product display, and maintain customer relationships. She also received a product grant that tripled her business size. Within months, her sales surged, her shop expanded, and she could finally afford to send her children to better schools.
“I now see myself as more than a trader,” Aminat said with pride. “I am a businesswoman who can stand on her own and support others.” Her success story has inspired several other women in her community to pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams.
Favour Effiong: A New Dawn in Calabar (South-South)
In Calabar, Favour Effiong had spent years running a small provisions store that barely sustained her family. Business was unpredictable, and the lack of training left her struggling to manage stock and pricing. When the Nestlé team arrived in her community, Favour was eager to join.
The training helped her understand bookkeeping, customer service, and profit reinvestment. She also received a product grant worth N200,000, which allowed her to restock and expand her shop’s offerings. Within weeks, her sales grew, and she was able to increase her household income.
“This programme has changed my life completely,” she said. “Now I can take care of my children’s school fees and even save a little each month. It’s not just business growth; it’s dignity restored.”
Today, Favour has become a mentor to other women in her area, showing them how proper management and perseverance can lead to success.
Merit Njeribeako: Turning Skill into Opportunity (South-East)
Across the South-East, Nestlé’s impact has also been felt through its partnership with the Women August Meeting, a traditional annual gathering where women discuss family, community, and development. In 2025, during the meeting held in Owerri, Nestlé’s Maggi brand empowered hundreds of women with business grants, competitions, and entrepreneurship workshops.
One of the standout beneficiaries was Merit Njeribeako, who emerged as the winner of the region’s cooking competition. The recognition, mentorship, and empowerment support she received turned her passion for cooking into a thriving business.
Previously known only for preparing meals for local events, Merit has now established a catering venture that employs two young women and serves clients across Imo and Anambra States. “What Nestlé gave me was more than a prize,” she shared. “It gave me purpose. My kitchen now feeds my family and my future.”
Yosi Gumwak: From Adversity to Empowerment (North)
In Michika, Adamawa State, Yosi Gumwak’s journey reflects the resilience that defines Nigerian women. Following years of hardship caused by local conflicts, she became the sole breadwinner of her family. With no formal education and only a small stall to her name, Yosi joined the Nestlé Empowering Rural Women programme with hope but little expectation.
Through mentorship and training, she learned how to manage her small business more efficiently and was given the resources to expand. Within months, Yosi’s income doubled. She could now afford to send her children to school and even save weekly for the first time in her life.
“The programme gave me confidence,” she said. “I now believe I can achieve more. My children look up to me, and that is the greatest gift.”
Nestlé’s 2025 Milestone
This year marked the fifth anniversary of Nestlé’s Empowering Rural Women initiative, with the addition of 49 new participants in Agbara, Ogun State, bringing the total number of beneficiaries nationwide to 431. Each woman received training and product support valued at up to 300 percent of her business size.
According to Nestlé’s Corporate Communications and Sustainability team, the programme’s goal remains to create genuine opportunities for women to grow their businesses while contributing to stronger families and communities. Empowered women, they noted, not only build profitable ventures but also help sustain the nation’s economic resilience.
The Agbara event also highlighted Nestlé’s long-standing bond with the community, where it has operated for over four decades. Local leaders commended the company’s continuous support for grassroots development and encouraged the beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity.
Beyond Business: The Ripple Effect of Empowerment
The true success of Nestlé’s women empowerment initiative lies not only in economic growth but in the transformation of lives and mindsets. For every woman empowered, an entire family feels the impact. Children stay in school. Households have better nutrition. Communities see reduced poverty and increased confidence.
Over 85 percent of the women who completed the programme have reported sustained business growth. Many have reinvested profits into expanding their shops, opening savings accounts, or starting side ventures. A few have even formed small cooperatives to share ideas, pool resources, and support one another—creating a cycle of empowerment that continues long after Nestlé’s training ends.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for Inclusive Growth
As Nestlé looks beyond 2025, the company remains committed to scaling its women empowerment efforts. Future plans include integrating digital literacy into the training modules to help women access online marketplaces, expanding into more northern and rural communities, and creating alumni networks to encourage peer mentorship.
Nestlé’s vision goes beyond short-term empowerment. It is about building a generation of women entrepreneurs who can pass on knowledge, inspire others, and create lasting economic stability for their families and regions.
A Brighter Future for Nigerian Women
The stories of Aminat, Favour, Merit, and Yosi reflect a shared truth: when women are given opportunities, they transform not only their own lives but also their communities. Nestlé’s continued investment in women’s empowerment is proving that sustainable development begins at the grassroots—with women who dare to dream bigger.
As the programme enters its next chapter, it carries with it the hope of thousands of women across Nigeria who aspire to a better life for themselves and their families. Nestlé’s commitment is clear: to keep empowering the nurturers of tomorrow and, in doing so, help build a stronger, more inclusive Nigeria.