Nestlé Nigeria has empowered 49 female retailers at Agbara, Ogun State, through its flagship initiative, Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria, aimed at strengthening small businesses and enhancing livelihoods within rural communities.

The project, now in its fifth year, has empowered over 382 women across the country, enabling them to expand their businesses by as much as threefold.

Through tailored business training, product grants, and mentorship, the initiative supports women in building more profitable retail ventures, reinforcing Nestlé’s commitment to inclusive growth at the community level.

With the addition of the 49 new participants from Agbara, the project has now reached a total of 431 women.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Agbara, the Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, stated that the project is about creating genuine opportunities for women.

She said the project has supported rural women to scale their retail operations by up to 300 per cent within just three months, saying, “it is not only beneficial for business but also essential for fostering a more inclusive economy, stronger families, and resilient communities.”

Uwadoka further emphasised that opening new doors for hardworking women determined to build better futures for themselves and their families in Agbara holds significant meaning for Nestle, especially as the community has been home to Nestlé Nigeria for over four decades.

We have witnessed the transformative impact of structured training, mentorship, and business grants on the 382 women who have already benefited from this initiative, and we are confident that we will see more success stories emerge from Agbara. Through this initiative, we are not only supporting individual entrepreneurs; we are investing in ripple effects that will benefit the entire community,” she added.

The Commercial Manager at Nestlé Nigeria, Boladale Odunlami, elaborated on the initiative’s purpose, noting that Nestlé is intentional about creating growth opportunities across every segment of its value chain.

She stressed that the Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria initiative was launched in 2021 to support women retailers in underserved communities, recognising their critical role in driving local economies.

Odunlami said since its inception, over 380 women have benefited from the programme, with more than 85 per cent reporting sustained business expansion.

Odunlami stated that with product grants valued at up to 300 per cent of their existing business size, participants have improved their turnover, increased revenue, and strengthened their community presence.

According to her, this edition is particularly special, as the participants were nominated by their own communities and will each receive product grants worth N200,000.

“We are excited to welcome the Agbara cohort and are confident that, with the support we provide, they will continue this legacy of progress and success,” she said.

On behalf of the Alagbara of Agbara, His Royal Highness Oba Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade JP, Olori Adeola Agunbiade, commended Nestlé’s enduring relationship with the community and encouraged the women to seize this opportunity.

“Our community enjoys a peaceful and respectful relationship with Nestlé, which enables us to work together effectively on community-led initiatives like the women empowerment programme. We are delighted to see the women we have carefully selected from our community benefit from this program, whose impact we have heard about,” he said.

Agunbiade urged the women to take full advantage of this training to build something lasting for herself and her family.

He assured Nestlé Nigeria of the community’s commitment to co-owning this project, which will further strengthen the long-standing bond with the people of Agbara.

The women expressed their gratitude and optimism regarding the opportunity.

Mrs. Eniola Fausat, one of the participants, shared her excitement: “This opportunity has opened my eyes to what is possible in my business. With the training and support, I am now more confident that I can improve my shop and better support my family. I thank Nestlé and the Alagbara for believing in us.”