Business
Business Growth: Nestlé Sustains Supports for Rural Women Retailers
Since August 2021, Nestlé Nigeria has helped 332 women to scale up their businesses
by 300% and to sustain the new level through the Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project. The beneficiaries are women within Nestlé Nigeria’s value chain, running small businesses in rural areas across Nigeria.
Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria by helping them build financial security to improve their livelihoods is one of the ways through which Nestlé Nigeria is Creating Shared Value along its value chain. The program was established to help beneficiaries scale up their businesses and sustain the new level of up to three times the size of their existing
businesses.
This objective is achieved through business training covering merchandizing, book-
keeping and customer service, mentorship and coaching in addition to grants in form of Nestlé products valued at 300% of their monthly sales at the time of joining the program.
The beneficiaries are subsequently registered in a 3-month mentorship program and each woman is linked to a personal mentor for one-on-one coaching to ensure adoption of the key learnings from the training received to achieve the desired success. Over 60% of the beneficiaries achieve the 300% target growth within the 3-month coaching period!
Aminat Kolawole is one of the 332 women across the country, supported by Nestlé
Nigeria to scale up their businesses through the Nestlé Rural Women empowerment
Program. Aminat, an indigene of Batoro community in Ogun state, has been running a small business for 8 years in Sagamu, where she sells food and beverages, toiletries, drinks, house-hold consumables among others. She is excited that her business, Idera Oluwa stores, was selected for the project. “I believe that this opportunity will provide the necessary knowledge and resources to grow my business so I can earn more money to support my family and cater for my children’s education”.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 7th batch into the Project in Sagamu, Nestlé Nigeria’s Commercial Manager, Khaled Ramadan, said “Creating shared value within our communities is core in the way we do business. At Nestlé, we strive to make positive impact on society while ensuring the sustainability of our business. The Rural Women Empowerment Program is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of value creation.
The stories and testimonials from previous beneficiaries, particularly 100% to 200%
business growth within three months of joining the program, encourages us to do more. Onboarding women from Sagamu, one of our host communities, is a significant milestone in our commitment to empowerment and sustainable development and we are proud to have an opportunity to make a tangible difference in their lives”.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Phranklin Audu, Lead Facilitator & Head, Strategic
Partnerships at FDConsults, implementation partner of Nestlé Empowering Rural Women
in Nigeria Project said, “We have amazing testimonials from previous beneficiaries.
Through this project, Nestlé continues to help solve the challenge of poverty by
empowering rural women across Nigerian communities, lifting them off the poverty spectrum and improving their livelihoods. We are delighted to be project partners for the training and mentoring on this credible initiative”.
According to Kabiesi Odofin Soyindo who represented the Akarigbo of Remoland, HRM Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, “I commend Nestlé for this sustainable venture and empowerment of Sagamu women. This is a noble initiative, and we are glad that our community is benefitting from corporate programs like this from Nestlé. To the beneficiaries, I urge you to establish your priorities and judiciously use the grants provided to you for the expansion of your businesses.”
Expressing her delight on behalf of other beneficiaries, Aminat said, “We are greatly
pleased at the opportunity to be included in this program. We are looking forward to the
learning and mentoring sessions which will equip us to run our businesses more
effectively. A big thank you to Nestlé for investing in us. Our promise to the company is that we will maximize this opportunity for the benefit of our families and communities”.
For Folasade Ogunjimi of Save Way Stores Sagamu, another beneficiary of the program, “This is the first time a company is bringing this amazing initiative to retailers in Sagamu in my 25 years of running this business. We sincerely appreciate this well planned and considerate gesture by Nestlé towards supporting and expanding our businesses”.
Community leaders, including the Vice Chairman of Sagamu Local Government Area and Executive members of the Royal Initiative for the Development of Sagamu Community, RIDSCO, also attended the event.
Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project began in August 2021, with 50
female retailers from the suburbs of Abuja. Currently, 332 women from the South-East,
The Ogun State Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun MFR, CON, has issued the Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) for Treasure Park and Gardens Phase 2 (City of David) and Treasure Park and Gardens phase 3 (Capetown Estate), to the foremost real estate developer in Nigeria, Adron Homes.
The gesture, according to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Maureen Echefu, and made available to Pointblank.ng, is to showcase Ogun State’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for real estate development.
The milestone, the statement further revealed, reflects the state government’s unwavering dedication to partnering with credible organizations that are driving development and growth in the real estate sector. By issuing the C of O to Adron Homes, the Ogun State Government has not only demonstrated its efficiency in processing land documentation, but has also emphasized its trust in reputable developers who prioritize excellence and compliance in their operations.
This recent issuance of the C of O by the Ogun State Government marks the second time the state has demonstrated its strong belief in the power of Public-Private Partnerships to drive development. During the tenure of the previous administration, the past governor, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, similarly issued Certificates of Occupancy for Treasure Park and Gardens Phase 1 (Genesis Estate), and Treasure Park and Gardens (Glasshouse Estate). This continued collaboration shows a consistent commitment to fostering a thriving real estate sector, creating jobs, and delivering quality housing solutions for the people of Ogun State.
The Chairman of Adron Homes and Properties, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, expressed his gratitude to the Ogun State Government for its prompt issuance of the C of O. He commended the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun for maintaining a business-friendly environment that enables real estate developers to contribute meaningfully to the state’s housing development agenda.
“We are deeply honored by this gesture, as it further validates our commitment to building world-class estates that provide comfort, security, and long-term value for our clients. Treasure Park and Gardens Phase 2 (City of David), and Treasure Park and Gardens phase 3 (Capetown Estate) in Shimawa are demonstrations of our vision of making luxury affordable, with state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities that cater to the modern homeowner. This partnership with the Ogun State Government strengthens our resolutuons to expand access to quality housing for all Nigerians,” the Chairman said.
The Treasure Park and Gardens Estates, situated in the serene locale of Shimawa, Ogun State, offers residents a harmonious blend of tranquility and accessibility. With meticulously planned layouts, paved roads, modern drainage systems, recreational spaces, and lots more, these estates set a benchmark for sustainable living. The issuance of the C of O now provides an added layer of assurance to current and prospective investors, reaffirming Adron Homes’ reputation as a trusted leader in real estate development.
The issuance of the C of O marks a significant chapter in the Treasure Park and Gardens Estates’ journey, and reinforces the Ogun State Government’s commitment to driving development, investment, and prosperity in the real estate sector.
For more information about Adron Homes, and the Treasure Park and Gardens Estates, visit www.adronhomesproperties.com
It was a moment of joy and excitement in Lagos on Thursday as the second prize-presentation event in Glo ‘Festival of Joy’ promo took place at Gloworld, Adeola Odeku Street, with a civil engineering contractor, Ayobami Adejumobi, going home with a brand new Toyota Prado.
The key to the jeep was presented to 42-year-old Adejumobi, who was accompanied by friends and relatives and the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.
Speaking at the event, Osun State-born Adejumobi thanked Globacom immensely for the prize. He said, “I still can’t believe it. A call came from Globacom and the news was too good to believe. I doubted it. Could it be fraudsters? However, I remembered the promo and how I joined when it was launched, and I immediately proceeded to the Gloworld on Adeola Odeku where the Glo officials were expecting me. I thank Glo for this prize. I will use the jeep personally; it will enhance my status and help me to get more jobs as a civil engineering contractor”.
Other winners at the event also commended Globacom for providing a platform for many Nigerians to win prizes. Bukola Olatunji, from Ijebu-Ode who won a Keke Napep said, ”I have always been a faithful participant in various Glo promos and have never lost hope that I would one day become a winner”. She promised to continue participating in all of Globacom’s promotions in future.
A generator winner, 33-year-old Ayodeji Olukunmi, also said “it’s indeed a joyful period, winning a brand new generator means a lot to me, God bless Globacom”, while Daniel Eleh from Benue State, who won a sewing machine, said, “I was shocked and surprised when I got the call. Glo has always been good to Nigerians.”
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who was the special guest of honour commended Globacom for such thoughtful reward schemes. “The good thing is that this is happening at a difficult time in the country. We must thank Glo for this and just pray that next year, it will be bigger. We would love the Chairman, (Dr Mike Adenuga), to make it twice this size next year. May God continue to bless the company,” he said.
Globacom’s Divisional Head, West, Lawrence Odediran, who also spoke at the event stated that new and existing subscribers can participate in the Festival of Joy promo by dialing *611# to opt into the promo and to keep recharging (voice and data) during the promo period, in order to be eligible to win the prizes on offer. He explained that new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
Dignitaries at the event include Deputy Majority Leader, Lagos House of Assembly, Honourable Adedamola Richard; Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye a representative of the Nigeria Communications Commission, Mrs Ijeoma Bassey; Iyaloja of Sura Market, Alhaja Raliat Adebayo, and nollywood trio of Uche Jombo, Adeolu Saga and Broda Shaggi.
As part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to France, the Chairman of UBA Group, in the presence of President Tinubu and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, signed a landmark business cooperation agreement with the French Finance Minister, Antoine Armand. The agreement is a significant indication of support by the French Government for the development of UBA’s full banking operations in France.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of UBA Group commented: ”This partnership reinforces our commitment to seamless international banking services for our customers, not just across the 11 Francophone African countries we serve, but Africa as a whole; and French and European customers transacting with Africa. Expanding into France is a natural progression, with Paris serving as our European Union hub, as we continue to bring Africa and the world together, through innovative financial solutions. Paris will join London, New York and Dubai, as a critical component of our unique global network.”
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.
