Nestlé Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Entrepreneurship at YEEP 2026

News in Brief:

—Nestlé Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs through mentorship, skills development and enterprise support.

—At YEEP 2026 in Abuja, the company encouraged youths to turn innovative ideas into businesses while highlighting its ongoing investments in youth-focused programmes across Nigeria.

Nestlé Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to helping young Nigerians build successful businesses, saying entrepreneurship remains one of the strongest pathways to employment, innovation and long-term economic growth.

The food and beverage maker made the commitment at the National Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Summit (YEEP) 2026, held in Abuja and organised by the Activate Success International Foundation.

Speaking at the summit, themed Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Courage and Impact, Nestlé Nigeria's Head of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability, Victoria Uwadoka, said empowering young people is central to the company's contribution to Nigeria's development.

She noted that with more than 70 per cent of Nigeria's population made up of young people, creating opportunities for entrepreneurship is essential to tackling unemployment and unlocking the country's economic potential.

Turning Ideas into Businesses

According to Uwadoka, successful businesses begin with solving real problems. She listed money, support and finances as necessary for creating solutions.

"If you have an idea today that meets needs and improves lives, that is an idea worth investing in," Uwadoka stated.

She encouraged young entrepreneurs to move beyond ideas by taking action, embracing innovation and remaining resilient despite challenges.

Uwadoka also assured participants that corporate organisations remain committed to creating environments where young entrepreneurs can access the skills, mentorship and opportunities needed to succeed.

Building Long-Term Opportunities for Young Nigerians

Nestlé Nigeria has partnered with the Activate Success International Foundation for the past eight years to promote youth entrepreneurship through mentorship, enterprise support and business development programmes. The foundation itself has spent over a decade organising initiatives that connect aspiring entrepreneurs with industry experts, investors and development partners.

The summit also brought together policymakers, business leaders, innovators and young entrepreneurs to discuss practical solutions for reducing unemployment and increasing economic inclusion.

Nestlé's latest commitment builds on several youth-focused initiatives the company has launched in recent years. In 2023, it provided ₦500,000 seed funding to 25 young agripreneurs through the Golden Morn Agripreneur Series while sourcing 100 per cent of the grains used in its products locally. The company has also continued to invest in technical skills development through its Technical Training Programme, which has helped hundreds of young Nigerians secure engineering careers.

For young Nigerians looking to start a business, the message from YEEP 2026 was clear: innovative ideas, backed by courage, practical skills and the right support, can become sustainable enterprises that create jobs and drive national development.