Global food and beverage brand, Nestle Nigeria, has noted that 100 per cent of the grains used to produce its products are sourced locally.
This was disclosed by the Category and Marketing Manager of Golden Morn, Ifeanyichukwu Orabuche on Friday during a presentation of grants to 25 agricultural entrepreneurs.
Under its Golden Morn Agripreneur Series, the grant had hundreds of agricultural entrepreneurs jostle for the 25 spots in the fifth cycle to get seed funding of N500,000 each.
Orabuche said out of the many young Nigerians who enrolled in several programmes at Nestle, 95 per cent have been employed in different capacities by the company.
She noted that in the five cycles of the webinar series conducted in 2023, there have been over 900 participants.
Speaking at the price presentation at the company’s headquarters in Ilupeju, Lagos, she said, “Farmer development is essential for better agricultural practice.
“As agripreneurs, you are employers of labour and that is why Nestle has decided to invest in your business. As a business, we all exist in an ecosystem.
“I am a firm believer in Nigeria’s commonwealth and I believe that the only way Nigerians would move forward is through the country’s collective commonwealth whether in agriculture, healthcare, or education.
“Everyone regardless of your income would share that common wealth. For us to coexist, we need to make sure the cycle continues”.
She noted that the average age of the Nigerian farmer was between ages 60 and 65 years, adding that this posed a challenge to the agricultural value chain.
Orabuche further added that the agricultural sector is one of the most viable sectors of Nigerian society.
