Nestlé Professional Empowers 300 Youth Entrepreneurs Through MYOWBU Training in Lagos

In a strong show of support for youth entrepreneurship, Nestlé Professional has trained 300 small business owners through its ‘My Own Business’ (MYOWBU) initiative in Lagos. The program, part of the company’s broader efforts to drive employment and economic empowerment, focused on equipping participants with vital entrepreneurial skills such as financial management, marketing strategies, customer engagement, hygiene, and food safety practices.

Driving Sustainable Youth Empowerment Through Street Vending and Skill Development

According to Toju Egbebi, Corporate Affairs Manager at Nestlé Nigeria, the MYOWBU initiative aims to empower young people across Central and West Africa, offering them a sustainable path out of poverty through street vending. Participants are supported with branded pushcarts, shoulder kits, and essential business tools to launch and manage micro-businesses selling affordable beverages like NESCAFÉ and MILO, which are widely consumed across Nigeria. Funmi Osineye, Business Manager for Nestlé Professional, highlighted the deeper intent behind the initiative:

“This program isn’t just about vending. It’s about building confidence, nurturing ambition, and fostering a network of young business leaders who proudly represent our brands. We believe entrepreneurship can transform lives and communities.”

The training sessions were facilitated by leading industry professionals, including Sulaimon Abolore, Assistant Director at the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment, and Dr. Ajibabi Awosika from Nestlé Nigeria. These experts provided insights on sustainable growth, operational excellence, waste management, and customer service excellence. The Lagos State Government lauded Nestlé’s initiative. Abolore commended the program’s alignment with the state’s job creation agenda, saying:

“This program is taking youth off the streets and turning them into self-reliant entrepreneurs. It’s a meaningful contribution to economic development.”

Personal stories from participants further underlined the transformative impact of MYOWBU. Adeosun Michael, the longest-serving operator with over 20 years in the program, shared: “MYOWBU gave me the opportunity to leave the streets, build a home, and provide for my family. It proved to me that consistency and hard work truly pay off.”

Joseph Abraham, once a pushcart vendor, is now a Nestlé distributor. Reflecting on his journey, he said “I began with a cart. Today, I own a distribution business thanks to the foundation Nestlé helped me build. Dreams do come true.”

As part of the event, Nestlé also unveiled its ‘Clean with MYOWBU’ initiative, which mobilized over 130 operators to collect and recycle used NESCAFÉ and MILO wrappers. This effort recovered over 175 kilograms of post-consumer packaging waste, underscoring Nestlé’s commitment to environmental sustainability and circular economy practices. Since its inception, the MYOWBU program has created over 1,500 jobs across Nigeria, empowering youth with training, resources, and mentorship. What began as a modest vending project became a robust platform for social impact and shared prosperity.