By Chris Onuoha

The global food manufacturing company, Nestle Nigeria Plc has continued in her bid to help rural women in business, by empowering additional 50 who will benefit from the second phase of the company’s project tagged: “Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria.” 

The project, a mentorship program to scale up retail business in rural women, initiated by Nestle Nigeria and facilitated by her implementation partners – Straplan Advisory Ltd was conducted in Oshogbo for women from Osun and Ekiti States.

According to the statement from the company, “This brings the number of women reached so far, under the program which aims to reach 300 women across the country to 100.”

“The  beneficiaries comprising female retailers in Nestlé’s value chain, will receive grants valued at 300 percent 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,” it added.

At the programme, Nestlé Nigeria’s Commercial Manager, Mr. Khaled Ramadan said, “We are happy to fulfil our promise of expanding Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria to reach more women in other parts of Nigeria. We are pleased 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.”

Khaled also noted that the women are reporting faster turnover and increased revenue as well as stronger visibility of their outlets within their locations.

“We are therefore 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,” said Khaled.

In his remarks at the launch of the second phase in Oshogbo, Osun State, Mr. Phranklin Audu, Lead Trainer & Head of Partnerships at Straplan Advisory Ltd,

said, “Following the successful implementation of the pilot phase, the rural women empowerment project from Nestlé Nigeria in its second phase sees rural women from the South Western region comprising Osun and Ekiti States benefiting from the economic and social empowerment initiative.

“We commend the Nestlé team for sustaining this initiative. To empower traders with 300 percent of their current monthly revenue at zero cost to the beneficiaries is indeed worthy of commendation,” he added.

One of the beneficiaries Mrs. Bashiru Hairat expressed her gratitude to Nestle.

She said, “I want to thank Nestlé for doing a lot for my family. 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.”

Meanwhile, Nestle Nigeria team stressed that 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.

According to them, the training and mentorship elements of the project are provided by Straplan Advisory Ltd who 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.

The first phase of Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria was launched in the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory in August 2021.