Business
Nestlé Empowers Women Towards Self-Sufficiency, Self-Reliance, Nation Building
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By Eric Elezuo
“Our goal is to ensure women feel supported, valued and respected. We have been working to balance the gender makeup of our workforce and leadership. As a result, the proportion of women in managerial positions is increasing, including in our most senior executive posts,” – Nestlé
If we have to measure the level or state Nestlé is giving women the power, authority and wherewithal to carry out their specific and basic assignments without recourse to another authority, the result will be unprecedented. Of course, this article is tailored towards that measurement, and the outcome is positively humongous. Women has found a resting beam on the efficacy and empowerment prowess of Nestlé, both as a Nigerian entity, and as a global force.
It is no secret that Nigerian women have found solace in the empowerment efforts of the dairy manufacturing giants, thereby taking charge of their own affairs, legally or otherwise towards becoming independent, self reliant, self sustaining, and of course capable of independently meeting their personal and communal responsibilities.
That is the makeup of Nigeria’s foremost food, beverage and other essential household makers, Nestlé Nigeria Limited, empowering all and sundry, with special bias to women, to becoming masters of their existence.
Charity, they say, begins at home, and so, Nestlé has anchored its placement of women on higher pedestal of empowerment and recognition from it primarily environment, as it gives women a pride of place in its employment indices. Presently, a total of 46.4% of its management positions are occupied by women. It is no wonder they won Top Employer Award in 2022 and following.
The company noted, “Our Gender Balance Acceleration Plan aims to increase the proportion of women in our top 200+ senior executive posts. We carefully monitor our succession planning to ensure that we have the right pipeline for our most critical business roles and provide career support and guidance through our Senior Leader Development Roadmap (Corporate Mentoring Program, Senior Leaders Development Assessment Center and Senior Executive Program).”
This has fulfilled one of their cardinal objectives, which is giving women the leverage to support their men, and in most cases become their own economic masters.
Nestlé’s efforts at empowering women is not limited to geo-location, and workplace excellence. Consequently, the brand on many occasions and still counting, has zeroed into communal existence, entrepreneurial capacity building, academic enablement, vocational mentorship and many more for women, giving them the needed zeal to coexist in a world erroneously described as a man’s world.
No one will forget in a hurry how during the 2014 United Nations 6th Annual Women’s Empowerment Principles event, Nestlé shared its mind bulging efforts to empower women and girls worldwide, exhibiting its works in cooperation with almost 750,000 women to provide technical and business skills, aimed at boosting education, training and opportunities, to encourage the professional development of women in the marketplace and community.
Also in August 2021, the brand launched the Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria project, the first of its kind, with the sole aim of helping rural women retailers within the company’s value chain to scale up their businesses to increase their household incomes. The programme has assumed national prominence from Nsukka and Obolo-Afor, where it was launched, reaching instantly to the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory and Osogbo in its first and second phases.
From the initial 150 beneficiaries, the gains have continued to multiply, integrating more Nigerian women, who are presently capable of holding their own. Nestle doesn’t settle for less in its quest to create a self reliant Nigerian woman.
The project is one of the Creating Shared Value initiatives that Nestlé deploys to help build thriving communities by improving livelihoods, and designed to equip female distributors at the end of the pyramid to scale up to three times the size of their existing businesses over three months, and to sustain the new level.
“At Nestlé, we believe that by contributing to the health and wellbeing of our communities, we create shared value for all stakeholders while contributing to the growth of our business,” the corporate headquarters was quoted as saying.
The package for beneficiaries of this programme includes grants by way of Nestlé products valued at 300% of their current monthly sales and participation in training and mentorship programs.
That’s not all, Nestlé provides each beneficiary retailer with a one-on-one mentor for guidance and consistent support. At the end of the day, the beneficiaries come out grounded and rounded, gaining the ability to master the trade and remain relevant in their businesses.
With this programme, Nestlé Nigeria has propelled 332 women entrepreneurs to amplify their businesses by an impressive 300% within the span of just one year, underscoring the company’s commitment to Creating Shared Value within its value chain, tailored to bolster financial security and enhance livelihoods, which specifically targets women within Nestlé Nigeria’s value chain.
Nestlé has also empowered women to diversify their incomes with the innovative family-centered approach, known as the Income Accelerator Programme, which is aiming to close the living income gap and reduce child labour risks by encouraging changes in behavior and rewarding positive practices.
This exemplifies Nestlé’s commitment to empowering women and households collectively, towards diversifying their incomes and building income resilience beyond every other primary endeavour.
Beyond the Nigerian shores, Nestlé also tells the story of global empowerment of women towards becoming the backbone of coffee cultivation.
The story goes, “Nescafé sources coffee from 20+ countries and recognizes the vital role that women play in growing high-quality coffee. Our sustainability initiative, the Nescafé Plan, isn’t just about producing great coffee. It’s also about empowering the communities that grow it. Supporting farmer incomes is a critical element, and, in many origins like Vietnam, the program is helping achieve yield increases up to 25%…
…”So far, Nescafé Plan 2030‘s farmer training programs have reached over 148 000 farmers in 16 countries, including… Vietnam. This knowledge empowers women to make informed decisions about their farms, improve yields, and, ultimately, grow their incomes.”
Again, Nestlé is in the forefront of empowering women farmers and advancing agriculture, and has been keenly aware of women’s vital role in Nigeria’s agriculture sector. Nestlé’s Agricultural Support Programmes have turned the challenge of limited access to resources, and climate change which threatens crop yield around, focusing specifically on women farmers by providing quality seeds, modern tools, and training in sustainable farming practices.
It has also partnered with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to promote climate-smart farming techniques that empower women to combat environmental challenges and increase crop yields.
As a testament of wholesome assistance to women’s course, the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, has recognized Nestlé for transparency in advancing women’s equality in the workplace for the fifth consecutive year.
It is believed that when the women are empowered, the community is empowered, and Nestlé takes cognizance, and is working assiduously in that direction.
Access Bank Plc has said that a social media post announcing a shutdown of the bank’s operations, is false and misleading.
In a statement signed by the bank’s management, and made available to the media, the Bank insisted that the notice is the handiwork of mischief makers, who impersonated the bank’s official handle.
It advised members of the public to disregard the notice, and pay attention only to verified information from the verified accounts of the bank.
Below is the full statement:
“A message impersonating Access Bank’s official handle is currently circulating on social media and WhatsApp. It is false and misleading.
“We wish to reassure our customers, partners, stakeholders, and the public that Access Bank is safe, financially strong, and fully operational across all our subsidiaries. Our services continue to run seamlessly, and we remain committed to serving our customers with the highest standards of excellence.
“We are working closely with the relevant regulatory and law enforcement authorities to identify those responsible for creating and spreading this false information to cause panic and business disruption. Appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
“We also remind members of the public that creating, publishing, and disseminating false information capable of causing public alarm, damaging reputations, or undermining confidence in institutions constitutes an offence under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
“If you receive a false and misleading message, please do not share or forward it. Instead, disregard it and rely only on information communicated through Access Bank’s official and verified channels.
“We thank our customers, partners, and stakeholders for their continued trust and confidence in Access Bank.”
Business
Ecobank Nigeria Launches Scaling Up!!! Podcast to Champion African Entrepreneurship, Business Growth
Ecobank Nigeria has launched Scaling Up!!!, its flagship business storytelling podcast designed to inspire, educate and empower entrepreneurs, founders, business leaders and the next generation of African innovators through authentic conversations with some of the continent’s most accomplished business personalities.
The podcast, which will be available on Ecobank Nigeria’s official YouTube channel and other major digital streaming platforms, reinforces the Bank’s commitment to supporting businesses beyond banking by creating a platform where entrepreneurs can learn from the experiences of successful founders, creatives and industry leaders who have built thriving enterprises across diverse sectors.
Featuring compelling conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, resilience and business growth, Scaling Up!!! offers practical lessons and real-life insights that aspiring and established entrepreneurs can apply in building sustainable businesses.
The inaugural season features an impressive lineup of distinguished guests, including beauty entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Beauty by AD, Adeola Adeyemi (Diiadem); renowned filmmaker and Founder of Golden Effects Pictures, Kunle Afolayan; veteran music producer and Founder of Coded Tunes, ID Cabasa; luxury fashion entrepreneur Ejiro Amos Tafiri; celebrated commercial photographer Emmanuel Oyeleke; Co-founder and Lead Interior Designer of Siriano Limited, Adewunmi Adegbola; and Founder of Windsor Gallery and Nahous Creative Hub, Richard Vedelago.
Each episode explores the guests’ entrepreneurial journeys, highlighting the opportunities they embraced, the challenges they overcame and the strategies that enabled them to build enduring brands and successful businesses.
Speaking on the launch, Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Ecobank Nigeria, Austen Osokpor, said: “Scaling Up!!! reflects Ecobank’s belief that empowering entrepreneurs goes beyond providing financial solutions. Through authentic storytelling and insightful conversations, we are creating a platform where business owners can learn directly from people who have successfully navigated the realities of building sustainable enterprises. It is another way we are reinforcing our commitment to driving entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth across Africa.”
Also speaking, Head, SMEs, Partnerships & Collaborations, Ecobank Nigeria, Omoboye Odu, said: “Entrepreneurs learn best from the experiences of those who have walked the journey before them. Scaling Up!!! provides practical insights, inspiration and valuable lessons that will help founders make better business decisions, overcome challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth. The podcast further strengthens Ecobank’s role as a trusted partner supporting SMEs at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.”
Sharing the creative vision behind the initiative, the Producer of Scaling Up !!!, Jemimah Ugiagbe said: “Our goal was to create more than just another business podcast. We wanted honest, engaging and relatable conversations that reveal the realities behind success, the setbacks, the resilience, the bold decisions, and the lessons that every entrepreneur can learn from. Every episode is designed to leave listeners informed, inspired and motivated to build businesses that create lasting impact.”
The podcast further strengthens Ecobank Nigeria’s position as a trusted partner for entrepreneurs by providing a knowledge-sharing platform that extends beyond traditional banking services. Through meaningful conversations with accomplished founders and innovators, the Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering enterprise development, encouraging innovation and promoting sustainable economic growth across Africa.
Scaling Up!!! is targeted at SMEs, entrepreneurs, founders, startups, business executives, creatives, students and young professionals seeking practical business insights from some of Africa’s most respected industry leaders.
New episodes will be released regularly across Ecobank Nigeria’s YouTube channel and other major podcast streaming platforms, offering audiences thought-provoking conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation and business growth.
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has been named Nigeria’s Best Digital Bank for Consumers 2026 by Euromoney, one of the world’s most respected authorities on financial services and banking excellence.
The prestigious recognition affirms the Bank’s sustained leadership in digital innovation, customer experience and financial inclusion, reinforcing its position as one of Nigeria’s leading technology-driven financial institutions.
Presented annually, the Euromoney Awards for Excellence celebrate banks that are redefining financial services through innovation, measurable impact and outstanding customer value. In selecting Wema Bank for the award, Euromoney recognised the Bank’s successful digital transformation journey, its continuous innovation through ALAT, Africa’s first fully digital bank, and its unwavering commitment to delivering simpler, smarter and more accessible banking experiences for customers.
Commenting on the recognition, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, said: “This award is a strong validation of the deliberate investments we have made over the years to build a truly digital bank that puts customers at the centre of everything we do. Innovation for us has never been about technology for its own sake. It has always been about creating solutions that make banking easier, faster, safer and more rewarding for every customer.
“From pioneering Africa’s first fully digital bank with ALAT to continuously evolving our digital capabilities, we have remained focused on anticipating customer needs and building experiences that create real value. We are honoured by this recognition from Euromoney and inspired to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation as we shape the future of banking in Nigeria,” he concluded.
A key milestone in Wema Bank’s digital transformation has been the evolution and upgraded version of ALAT, which introduced next-generation capabilities including voice banking, tap-to-pay functionality, personalised financial services and integrated investment opportunities through strategic partnerships. Together with faster digital onboarding, AI-powered fraud monitoring, intelligent customer personalisation and an expanding agency banking network, these innovations continue to enhance customer experience while extending financial services to more Nigerians.
Euromoney also recognised Wema Bank’s ability to leverage technology to build deeper customer relationships through data-driven personalisation, enabling customers to receive tailored recommendations across savings, investments and credit products based on their financial needs and behaviour.
For over eight decades, Wema Bank has remained at the forefront of innovation in Nigeria’s financial services industry. As the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, the Bank continues to redefine banking by combining technology, customer insight and innovation to deliver seamless, secure and inclusive financial solutions for individuals, businesses and communities.
The Euromoney recognition further reinforces Wema Bank’s commitment to building the future of banking through continuous innovation, operational excellence and customer-centric solutions that create lasting value.
