50 female entrepreneurs benefit from empowerment drive in Calabar

In its empowerment drive, Nestlé Nigeria has expanded its Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Initiative to include 50 more female retailers in Calabar, Cross River State. At the event to launch this project, the participants were trained in merchandising, bookkeeping, and customer service.

Speaking on the importance of the project, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Lead, Nestlé Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, said the brand is committed to contributing to efforts to build thriving communities.

“For us therefore, the Initiative is one of the ways we create shared value, contributing to the wellbeing of every stakeholder along our value chain while driving business success. This initiative has already yielded positive results among women in the seven rural communities already reached, and we are confident that we will have the same success stories among the 50 women participants from Calabar.”

For Nestlé Nigeria’s Commercial Manager, Mr. Boladale Odunlami, “the rural women empowerment project was created out of a need to address a gap. We are encouraged by the success of the 332 women who have been adopted into the programme since its launch in 2021. 85 percent of them have maintained the 300 percent growth, with faster turnover, increased revenue, and stronger visibility of their outlets within their locations. This is why we are excited to onboard 50 more women, confident that they will take full advantage of the support provided through this programme to transform their businesses and, by extension, their families and their communities.”

One of the women selected for the programme Mrs. Favour Effiong, owner of Favour Stores, said, “My journey with Nestlé has been very productive. Today’s training and the grant received, will enable me to improve the standard of living for my family. I cannot thank Nestlé enough for this investment in my business.”