In line with its commitment to continuously impact livelihoods and positively impact society, Unilever Nigeria has empowered over 13,000 women across 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria through the Shakti Initiative. I’m here.
The Unilever Nigeria Shakti Initiative is implemented in partnership with the Growing Businesses Foundation (GBF).
The aim is to provide female beneficiaries with the tools, training and guidance they need to become independent entrepreneurs, contributing to both their personal financial advancement, their families and their communities through the sale of Unilever products.
Commenting on the impact of the Shakti Initiative, Tobi Adeniyi, Customer Development Director, Unilever Nigeria, said: Some companies started with 20,000 naira worth of product support, and over the years, that support grew into double digit hundreds of thousands and even millions. ”
“This is a testament to the power of purpose and we believe that women do great things socio-economically to positively impact their families and society as a whole. Unilever Nigeria is proud of this initiative. , we remain committed to expanding our Shakti initiative to reach more women each year,” said Adeniyi.
Spotlight on Alhaja Gbemisola Sherifat Ogunremi in Ibadan, Oyo State
One of the success stories of the Shakti Initiative is Alhaja Gbemisola Sherifat Ogunremi from Ibadan, Oyo State. A former hairdresser joined the Shakti initiative with ₦20,000 worth of Unilever products. The training she received taught her how to manage sales, keep records, and put profits back into the business. Ogunremi started as a small trader but has now grown into a thriving retailer in the community.
According to her, “Shakti has made my dreams come true, I am able to support my family and my husband is proud of me. My expenses are covered from my profits and my business is It doesn’t affect me, so I can easily feed my family.”
Through her participation in Shakti activities, Ogunremi was able to save money and with the support of her husband, was able to realize her lifelong dream of going on a Hajj pilgrimage. In addition to this development, she began empowering other women by involving them in savings systems that help them buy Unilever products and start small businesses.
Her journey is a testament to focus and perseverance. She advised other Shakti women to focus on their business and continue to improve their livelihoods through this initiative, saying, “If I had not taken the opportunity to join Shakti and continued to this day, would not have been here.”
While Ms. Ogunremi’s future goals are to expand her business and become an associate distributor for Unilever Nigeria, the success of the Shakti Initiative has encouraged her to work tirelessly to ensure the progress of beneficiaries like her. This would not be possible without the dedicated field agents and mentors who work there. One such agent is Aminat Bakare, who currently manages 100 Shakti women. She is responsible for mentoring, mentoring, and developing these women, teaching them how to record sales, order, and display products effectively.
Bakare’s dedication to her role is evident in her passion for seeing women succeed. She has taught them to be customer-centric and loyal to both the brand and the customer. Her wish is that all women under her supervision grow into renowned distributors within the Unilever ecosystem.
Unilever Nigeria has partnered with Shakti, which focuses on women’s empowerment, and Future We remain committed to the socio-economic development of Nigeria through initiatives such as the Campus Ambassador Program (FUCAP). .
Unilever Nigeria is also committed to making the environment safer and healthier through its plastics initiative in partnership with Wecyclers, which aims to take more plastic out of the environment than it puts into it. I’m working on it. As the longest continuously operating manufacturing company in Nigeria for over 100 years, Unilever Nigeria remains committed to staying in Nigeria and contributing to the socio-economic development of the country through its brands and operations. I’m here.
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