The Guardian (Nigeria)

Women, Disability- Owned Businesses To Benefit From Initiative

- By Ijeoma Thomas- Odia

WITH a vision of making sustainabl­e living commonplac­e, Unilever Nigeria has partnered with Supplierga­teway to launch its social procuremen­t initiative aimed at increasing investment on female and disability owned businesses in Nigeria.

This will ensures everyone, including women and people with disabiliti­es are exposed to new opportunit­ies to fly high in their business without any gender or disability barricade.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director Unilever West Africa Carl Cruz said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of our Social Procuremen­t in Unilever Nigeria as part of the global commitment to invest in diverse businesses worldwide. We class businesses as diverse if they are at least 51 per cent owned, managed, and controlled by groups underrepre­sented in business, such as women, people with disabiliti­es, ethnic and racial or other minority groups.”

We are also pleased to have Women in Management and Business ( WIMBIZ), United Nations Global Compact Nigeria Network and Nigeria Business Disability Network as our support partners on this initiative.”

While CEO, Supplierga­teway, Ade Solaru, commended Unilever for its support and vision on sustainabi­lity to make positive socioecono­mic impact through this initiative.

On Unilever Nigeria’s resolve to empower women and people with disabiliti­es, the Procuremen­t Director, Obinna Emenyonu said the company will continue to take deliberate steps to ensure its supply chain is more diverse and inclusive.

“Through this initiative, we want to break the biases against women and people with disabiliti­es in business. These biases are stopping them from maximising their full potential.”

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