National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Report by Dayo Emmanuel
Women in rural Nigeria remain among the most vulnerable populations, often facing poverty, poor healthcare, and limited access to education and resources. Compared with their urban counterparts, rural women are disproportionately exposed to health risks, especially maternal mortality.
This makes the need for deliberate intervention more urgent. Among the few organisations rising to this challenge is Nestlé Nigeria, whose sustained Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes have focused on empowering women in underserved communities.
Maternal mortality remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health crises in Nigeria which is largely due to poverty.
Despite gradual improvements in
Maternal Mortality in Nigeria, the numbers are still alarming.
According to MacroTrends, Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate (MMR) was 1,016 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 and 993 in 2023, despite the downward trend, it is still one of the highest in the world.
In contrast, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target is 70 deaths per 100,000 live births, showing just how wide the gap remains. The Maternal and Reproductive Health Collective (MRHC) estimates that Nigeria records up to 75,000 maternal deaths annually, representing almost 29% of global maternal deaths.
Beyond statistics, this crisis reflects the struggles of countless women who die from preventable causes such as hemorrhage, infection, hypertensive disorders, and unsafe childbirth. The roots of these deaths are deep—poverty, poor infrastructure, malnutrition, and limited education all combine to endanger women’s lives.
Maternal mortality is not only a medical problem; it is tied to the broader issue of women’s empowerment. Economic independence, education, and access to resources directly influence women’s health and wellbeing.
When women are economically empowered, they are more likely to afford transport to clinics, purchase nutritious food, and access skilled health services. Education also equips them with knowledge about antenatal care, safe delivery, and hygiene practices. Empowered women often become community advocates, championing better healthcare and supporting others to follow suit.
Empowerment also builds resilience. When women have access to skills, microfinance, and leadership opportunities, they can influence community health decisions, demand accountability, and contribute to lasting social change.
Over the last few years, Nestlé Nigeria Plc has continued to demonstrate commitment to rural women’s empowerment. Between 2022 and 2024, the company invested ₦51,685,000 in programmes aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of women in rural areas — about ₦17 million annually.
This funding supports training, micro-enterprise, and cooperative initiatives that help women build sustainable sources of income. While the figure may seem modest compared with the scale of Nigeria’s maternal health crisis, its purposeful targeting of rural women makes it significant.
For many women, earning a steady income means the difference between neglecting and prioritising healthcare. A financially empowered woman can afford clinic visits, better nutrition, and skilled care during childbirth — all of which directly reduce maternal mortality risks.
Nestlé’s consistent engagement shows that corporate social responsibility can go beyond philanthropy to address systemic issues. By investing in women, the company not only uplifts households but also fosters healthier and more resilient communities.
As one participant, Mrs. Eniola Fausat, shared after attending a Nestlé workshop in July 2025:
“This opportunity has opened my eyes to what is possible in my business. With the training and support, I am now more confident that I can improve my shop and better support my family.”
She expressed gratitude to the company, saying:
“I thank Nestlé and the Alagbara for believing in us.”
Participants in the empowerment programme received product grants worth ₦200,000 each, as well as training in entrepreneurship, bookkeeping, merchandising, and customer service. Each woman was also assigned a personal mentor for three months to guide them in sustaining their business growth.
The initiative has also fostered strong relationships between Nestlé and host communities. The Wife of the traditional ruler of Agbara, Olori Adeola Agunbiade, praised the company’s consistency and urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity.
“Our community enjoys a peaceful and respectful relationship with Nestlé, which enables us to work together effectively on community-led initiatives like this women empowerment program,” she said.
“I urge every woman here today to take full advantage of this training to build something lasting for herself and her family.”
She further pledged support for continued collaboration:
“I assure Nestlé Nigeria of our commitment to co-owning this project, which will further strengthen the long-standing bond with the people of Agbara.”
The testimonies from participants reflect how private-sector engagement can drive sustainable social transformation when rooted in partnership and shared responsibility.
Nigeria’s maternal health crisis cannot be solved by government alone. Addressing it requires collaboration among corporations, NGOs, donor agencies, and local communities.
1. Scale and Reach:
The scale of maternal mortality demands collective action. A single organisation cannot reach all communities, but partnerships can expand coverage and impact.
2. Complementarity with Public Health Systems:
Empowerment programmes work best when they complement government efforts to improve health facilities, skilled birth attendance, and emergency obstetric services.
3. Sustainability:
When women are equipped with income-generating skills rather than short-term aid, they gain ownership and long-term resilience.
4. Innovation:
The private sector can introduce new ideas—digital tools, microfinance schemes, or nutritional programmes—that can be tested and scaled quickly.
5. Accountability and Measurable Impact:
Corporations like Nestlé are accustomed to metrics. By applying that discipline to social projects, they ensure results are measurable and transparent.
For empowerment initiatives to be truly transformative, experts emphasize a data-driven and partnership-based approach.
Partnerships: Collaboration between companies like Nestlé, NGOs, healthcare providers, and government agencies can pool resources for greater impact.
Targeting High-Risk Communities: Using maternal health data to identify states or regions with the highest risks ensures that interventions reach those who need them most.
Integration of Health Education: Economic empowerment should include maternal health education, referrals to clinics, and support for safe delivery and postnatal care.
Scaling Successful Pilots: Effective models should be expanded to neighbouring communities and states to multiply results.
Advocacy: Beyond programmes, corporations should also lend their voice to campaigns for better rural healthcare infrastructure, maternity policies, and social protection.
Nigeria’s maternal mortality figures remain a tragic reminder of inequality. Rural women continue to face life-threatening conditions simply for wanting to bring life into the world. Yet, stories from initiatives like Nestlé’s show that change is possible when deliberate action is taken.
Corporate social investment in women is more than charity but it is a life-saving intervention. It empowers families, improves child nutrition and education outcomes, and builds stronger communities.
Nestlé Nigeria’s ₦51.7 million investment between 2022 and 2024 demonstrates that corporate goodwill can translate into measurable impact. But the magnitude of the challenge calls for more companies to follow suit, aligning their CSR efforts with evidence-based strategies that address both economic and health dimensions of women’s empowerment.
The Agbara initiative has proven that with the right training, resources, and mentorship, women can lift themselves and their families out of poverty while promoting healthier living standards.
Ultimately, empowering women is not just about financial inclusion or business growth, it is about saving lives and restoring dignity. Every mother saved, every child nurtured, and every community strengthened through such programmes represents progress toward a fairer, healthier Nigeria.
As Mrs. Eniola’s renewed hope shows, with continued partnerships between the private sector and communities, rural women can become not just beneficiaries of support but drivers of national transformation.
*Picture credit: Nestlé Nigeria
