Nestlé is celebrating 10 years of transforming the lives of young people in Cameroon and Gabon, through its flagship youth entrepreneurship initiative, “My Own Business” (MYOWBU).
Launched in 2015 amid rising youth unemployment in Central Africa, Nestlé says the programme has empowered over 500 young men and women in Cameroon and Gabon to launch sustainable careers vending NESCAFÉ beverages.
What started as a bold response to economic challenges has blossomed into a network of thriving micro-businesses, proving that opportunity, paired with a little training and a lot of grit, can rewrite futures.
Nestlé says at its core, MYOWBU is designed for accessibility. “All they need is their national identification card to enroll,” said Virgil Fendzi, Nestlé Professional Business Manager for Central Africa. “We provide ongoing training in product handling, hygiene, customer service, and financial management. It is a business in a box, ready to roll.”
In a press statement, the company says participants can choose their path: either managing a fully supported NESCAFÉ kitchen, complete with expert guidance from Nestlé pros, or hitting the streets as mobile vendors peddling hot cups of the iconic instant coffee. Today, the programme boasts more than 12 kitchens across five major Cameroonian cities and five in two Gabonese hubs, sustaining hundreds of young entrepreneurs who are not just surviving, but succeeding and living their dreams.
Among the programme’s shining stars is Abidina Diande, a former street vendor in Libreville, Gabon. Back in 2011, Diande was hustling on the sidewalks, brewing NESCAFÉ under the sun. Fast-forward to today, and she’s the proud operator of the network’s most successful kitchen, mentoring dozens of fellow vendors along the way.
“Thanks to the MYOWBU programme, I went from selling NESCAFÉ on the streets in 2011 to running the most successful kitchen in our network today,” Diande shared. “It’s proof that hard work and opportunity can truly change lives.”
Diande’s journey underscores MYOWBU’s role as more than a starter kit—it’s a launchpad. Many alumni have parlayed their vending savvy into full-time gigs in sales, marketing, and distribution, with some even landing spots on Nestlé’s payroll. “This initiative is one of the ways Nestlé creates shared value in Cameroon and Gabon,” explained Aboubacar Coulibaly, Managing Director of Nestlé Cameroun. “It keeps young people engaged in meaningful work and helps them launch and grow their careers as entrepreneurs or professionals.”
As the programme steams into its second decade, Nestlé Professional is doubling down on its promise. With fresh investments in training, equipment, and mentorship, the goal is clear: scale up to empower thousands more across Central Africa. For motivated youth eyeing their shot at independence, the invitation is wide open—grab your ID, stir up some ambition, and join the brew.
Whether one is dreaming of a bustling kitchen or a mobile cart empire, MYOWBU offers a caffeinated path to possibility, one cup at a time, serving those in need, and in turn making a bustling life from it with endless possibilities.
By Andrew Nsoseka
