How Nigerian Women Are Powering Global Supply Chains, By Tracy Folorunsho-Barry

By Edu Abade

A new social enterprise linking Nigerian women to international markets is reshaping conversations around poverty alleviation, women’s rights, and sustainable development.

The initiative, known as the Nurture Empowerment Initiative, was launched by GROW Women Leaders, a Canadian-based organization at the forefront of women’s empowerment. It was unveiled during the GROW Women Leaders Summit 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, where stakeholders described it as a model for inclusive, cross-continental economic empowerment.

At its core, the initiative creates living-wage jobs for women through nuts processing, food manufacturing, and retail distribution, with operations already running in Edo State, Nigeria, and Edmonton, Canada. By 2026, it is projected to employ over 60 women directly in Nigeria, while also expanding exports to Canada, the UK, and the US.

Founder and CEO, Tracy Folorunsho-Barry, said the goal was to bridge dignity with opportunity.

“The Summit was our stage, but the real story is on the ground. Every bag of nuts produced in Edo and sold abroad is more than food—it is a woman’s livelihood, her dignity, her chance to provide for her family. This is how communities are lifted out of poverty,” she explained.
In Nigeria, rural women are already processing and packaging nuts for international distribution. In Canada, immigrant women are being trained in food entrepreneurship, retail, and corporate procurement, helping them integrate into the workforce.
This dual model– connecting local Nigerian communities to global supply chains while also supporting immigrant women in Canada—sets the Nurture Empowerment Initiative apart.

“In Edo, every bag of nuts is creating opportunity for women once excluded from the workforce. In Edmonton, women who were once isolated are now learning how to thrive in business. It’s dignity across borders,” Folorunsho-Barry said.

One of the initiative’s beneficiaries, Bisi Ojo, a 37-year-old mother of three from Benin City, shared how her life was transformed. Despite years of experience in quality control, she could not find steady work.

“I sent out so many applications I lost count. Most times, there was no reply. I felt invisible,” she said.

Her breakthrough came when she joined the Nurture Empowerment Initiative. Today, she works in the packaging hub, earning a steady income and contributing to an international supply chain.
“The first time I held my salary, I cried. It wasn’t just money. It was proof that I still matter. I can now pay my children’s school fees and provide meals consistently,” she said in an emotion-laden voice.

Her story underscores the programme’s potential: restoring dignity to women while tackling household poverty.
Beyond individual impact, experts see the initiative as a contribution to global development priorities. Its design aligns with several United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

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By blending business with social development, the Nurture Empowerment Initiative represents a new wave of social enterprises that are commercially viable, yet socially driven. For Folorunsho-Barry, the vision is clear: Nigerian women are not just surviving; they are integrating into global trade and shaping futures.

“I want people to know that Nigerian women are hardworking and capable. All they need is a chance. This initiative is about giving them that chance,” she stated.

As GROW Women Leaders expands its footprints, the voices from Edo to Edmonton carry one message: When women rise, communities rise.