Empowering Lagos Food Vendors: Nestlé Nigeria's Business Training Initiative

 

Training session for Lagos food vendors by Nestlé Nigeria

It is not easy to run a small food business in Lagos today as if one is trying to cook in a business kitchen without meeting a fan; the day is a hot, chaotic day and needs full attention while ensuring challenges. That managing the business is still profitable has become a task. This is where Nestlé Nigeria’s latest initiative comes in, and let me be honest, it's not just another corporate social responsibility.

Imagine this: over 2,000 food vendors from all corners of Lagos, from the bustling streets of Ikeja to the vibrant stalls in Mushin, are equipped with skills to not just survive but thrive. Nestlé has rolled out a training program designed to teach practical strategies for managing businesses in these tough times. This isn’t about tossing buzzwords around—it’s about real solutions for real people.


Do you remember those deep guys frying who are puff preparing jollof puff rice for along the past road or a few that mother years? These are the people of Lagos's street food culture. They are not only offering meals; they are providing food, energy, people’s struggles stories, and victories. But let’s be honest; the rising cost of input, the cost of rent, and all the other costs in between have been a great setback for many of them.


Nestlé’s program is not limited to the provision of fundamental needs. This is because vendors are not only taught how to prepare a proper budget as well as how to manage resources, but they are also taught how to grow their businesses. For many, it is a lifeline, a chance to continue operating when the idea of closing down might seem like the only way.

This isn’t just about the numbers. This is about people. Teaching a person how to deal with difficulties and how to find the positive aspects of the situation helps not only a business but also the person’s confidence. It’s a way of telling them, ‘You can do it,’ and sometimes that is all one needs to continue.


The community. Impact It also implies that the initiative is family-wide. This well is fed because the means empowered by the vendor equals income, which is a local, empowered, preserved economy that is boosted in the process. It’s rather beneficial for both sides.


All right, so let’s not overestimate this as if it is some sort of solution. There are still some issues to be solved, there are policies to be made, the infrastructure can be developed, and more support can be given. But initiatives like these prove that change is achievable when large corporations such as Nestlé pause to listen to individuals who are behind the change.


So, what’s your take? Do you think initiatives like this are enough to help small food businesses thrive in the face of rising costs? Or is it just a drop in the ocean? Let’s hash it out.