Nestlé backs 50 Zaria women as rural retail initiative hits five-year milestone

Five years after launching its Empowering Rural Women Initiative, Nestlé Nigeria is expanding its support for women-led businesses, with 50 retailers in Zaria, Kaduna State, receiving business training and product grants to strengthen their enterprises.

The latest beneficiaries were equipped with practical skills in bookkeeping, stock management, merchandising, financial management and customer service, alongside Nestlé products valued at three times the value of their existing stock.

The Zaria intervention, which marks the 10th edition of the initiative, also begins a three-month mentorship programme aimed at helping the women apply their new skills, manage the additional inventory and build more sustainable businesses.

Launched in 2021, the initiative targets women retailers with the drive to grow their businesses but limited access to training, mentorship and growth capital.

With the addition of the Zaria beneficiaries, the programme has now reached 482 women across communities in Nigeria, up from 432 before the latest intervention.

Nestlé said monitoring of previous beneficiaries shows that more than 80 per cent have sustained or grown their businesses beyond the initial support. Many have reportedly increased their inventories and turnover, attracted more customers and strengthened their financial and business management practices.

The programme comes against the backdrop of the critical role women play in Nigeria’s retail economy, particularly in rural and underserved communities where small retailers provide a vital link between consumers and larger markets.

Speaking at the Zaria event, Boladale Odunlami, Commercial Manager, Nestlé Nigeria, said women are central to the company’s retail network and deserve opportunities to grow alongside the business.

“Women account for approximately 60% of the retailers in Nestlé Nigeria’s retail network. Every day, they help us reach consumers, build trust within communities and keep our business moving,” Odunlami said.
He added that the initiative was designed to turn women retailers into stronger entrepreneurs while reinforcing the company’s distribution network.

“The Empowering Rural Women Initiative reflects our belief that the women who contribute to our growth should have the opportunity to grow with us. By investing in their skills and strengthening their businesses, we are helping them increase their earning potential while building a stronger, more capable and more resilient retail network,” he said.

Beyond the immediate stock support, the mentorship phase is expected to be critical to the programme’s long-term impact. Mentors will guide participants as they manage their expanded inventory, apply lessons from the training and reinvest profits into their businesses.

Participants will also be encouraged to share experiences and build networks that can continue beyond the formal three-month mentorship period.

Reflecting on the initiative’s five-year journey, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Nestlé Nigeria, said its success should be measured by what beneficiaries achieve after receiving support.

“The true measure of this initiative is not the support we provide on the day, but what the women go on to build with it,” Uwadoka said.

“Five years on, we are seeing women sustain their growth, expand their businesses and create greater economic security for themselves and their families.”

According to her, the initiative demonstrates Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value approach, where investment in communities also strengthens the company’s business ecosystem.

“As these women build stronger businesses and better livelihoods, they also strengthen the retail network that connects Nestlé to communities across Nigeria. It is a model in which progress for the women and progress for our business reinforce each other,” she said.

The Zaria edition was implemented with the support of Nestlé Nigeria’s partners and local distributors, who will remain engaged with the beneficiaries during the mentorship period.