Following the success of the Nestlé Nigeria project – Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria, which was launched in the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, in August, 2021, Nestle has further empowered another 50 women, this time in South West Nigeria, making it 100 women so far enabled out of the 300 women projected for the project.
The beneficiaries, comprising female retailers in Nestlé’s value chain, will receive grants valued at 300% of their monthly sales in form of Nestlé products. They will also participate in training and mentorship programs which will enable them scale up their businesses thereby increasing their household incomes.
“We are happy to fulfil our promise of expanding Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria to reach more women in other parts of Nigeria” says Nestlé Nigeria’s Commercial Manager, Mr. Khaled Ramadan. “We are pleased”, he emphasized, “with the progress made by the first 50 beneficiaries who currently enjoy the training and mentorship provided by Nestlé and her implementation partners – Straplan Advisory Ltd.” The women, Khaled said, “are reporting faster turnover and increased revenue as well as stronger visibility of their outlets within their locations”. Reason for which Nestle is “confident that the 50 selected retailers in South West Nigeria will also reap the full benefits of the support we are providing through training, mentorship and grants.”
Mr. Phranklin Audu, Lead Trainer & Head of Partnerships at Straplan Advisory Ltd, at the launch of the second phase in Oshogbo, Osun State, stated his belief that “Following the successful implementation of the pilot phase, the rural women empowerment project from Nestlé Nigeria sees rural women from the South-Western Region (Osun & Ekiti States) benefiting from the economic and social empowerment initiative”. And in applauding Nestlé for sustaining the initiative, he fully acknowledged that “to empower traders with 300% of their current monthly revenue at zero cost to the beneficiaries is indeed worthy of commendation”
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Bashiru Hairat, expressing her gratitude to Nestle, said, “I am so happy that I was selected to participate in this program. The grant will increase my business and income which will enable me improve my standard of living and that of my family.”
Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria, is designed to help rural women retailers scale up their businesses and sustain the new level of up to three times the size of their existing business. It is one of the Creating Shared Value initiatives that Nestlé deploys to help build thriving communities improving livelihoods. The training and mentorship elements of the project are provided by Straplan Advisory Ltd which has a track record of helping rural dwellers access information and skills to improve their standards of living. Each beneficiary retailer is linked to a one-on-one mentor for guidance and consistent support over three months to ensure their success.
“I am so happy that I was selected to participate in this program. The grant will increase my business and income which will enable me improve my standard of living and that of my family.”
– Mrs Bashiru Hairat – a beneficiary
