Nestlé Nigeria and the Activate Success International Foundation (ASIF) have renewed their partnership to expand opportunities for youth entrepreneurship and innovation, reaffirming their commitment to helping young Nigerians transform ideas into sustainable businesses.

The renewed commitment was announced at the 2026 National Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Summit (YEEP) in Abuja, where both organisations highlighted the impact of their eight-year collaboration in equipping young people with entrepreneurial skills, mentorship and access to business opportunities.

Speaking at the summit, themed “Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Courage and Impact,” Nestlé Nigeria’s Head of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability, Victoria Uwadoka, said the partnership reflects the company’s belief that investing in young entrepreneurs is critical to Nigeria’s economic future.

She described the collaboration as proof of what can be achieved when the private sector and development organisations work together to create an enabling environment for innovation and enterprise.
According to her, with more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population made up of young people, initiatives such as YEEP have become vital platforms for nurturing talent, unlocking innovation and preparing the next generation of business leaders.

“It is a great pleasure to be part of the YEEP 2026 Summit, a platform dedicated to empowering young people to transform their ideas into opportunities and their talents into enterprise. Your ideas remain ideas until you bring them to life,” she said.
Uwadoka noted that entrepreneurship is about identifying opportunities and creating value, while innovation requires young people to think differently in solving societal challenges.

She added that courage enables entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams despite uncertainty, stressing that lasting impact comes from building businesses that create sustainable value.
“Money, support and financing flow to solutions. If you have an idea that meets needs and improves lives, that is an idea worth investing in,” she said.

Reaffirming Nestlé Nigeria’s commitment, Uwadoka said the company would continue working with ASIF and other stakeholders to strengthen the ecosystem that supports young entrepreneurs.

“As corporate leaders, we want to reiterate our responsibility to create enabling environments where entrepreneurship can continue to flourish, not just for this generation but for generations to come,” she added.
She commended ASIF for its 11 years of sustained investment in youth empowerment and nine years of organising the YEEP conference, describing the foundation as a trusted partner in advancing entrepreneurship across Nigeria.

Uwadoka also acknowledged the contributions of development partners, government institutions and private sector organisations, including Flutterwave, for supporting young innovators in translating their ideas into thriving enterprises.

The Nestlé-ASIF partnership has, over the past eight years, focused on entrepreneurship development, mentorship, innovation and enterprise support for young Nigerians, reinforcing both organisations’ shared commitment to youth inclusion and sustainable economic growth.