FoodCo urges women to prioritise mental health, personal growth

FoodCo, one of the top retailers in Nigeria and one of Africa’s fastest-growing companies, has urged Nigerian women to prioritise mental health and personal growth by equipping themselves with the relevant tools to help them navigate daily pressure.

This was made known at the Women’s Health and Personal Effectiveness Conference organised by the company to commemorate International Women’s Day 2025.

In her opening address, Funmi Aiyepeku, Chief Commercial Officer of the company, emphasised the pivotal role women play in building sustainable societies.

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She said: “Women are the bedrock of society given the critical roles they play in both birthing and nurturing the future generation. But beyond these and the historic setbacks against them, they have also established themselves as change-makers, innovators, business leaders and home-makers.

“As a family brand, we recognise the many roles women juggle every day. That is why we organised this seminar to support them firstly in their quest for personal fulfillment and, secondly, to function effectively in the roles they occupy.”

FoodCo is a diversified consumer goods company with interests in retail, quick service restaurants, manufacturing and entertainment. The company operates the largest supermarket chain brand in southwest Nigeria.

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In her presentation, Nneka Asuai Iyonmahan, a medical officer at Reliance Health, emphasised the need for greater awareness and proactiveness in addressing the mental needs of women in Nigeria.

She stated: “The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that one in four Nigerians suffer from some type of mental health issue, but help is often hampered by budget constraints and lack of skilled staff.

“This state of affairs affects women especially because, as traditional caregivers and nurturers, they also face modern socio-economic demands. Many end up putting others first and neglecting their own needs.

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“This is why today’s woman must build resilience by taking small intentional steps, setting realistic goals, celebrating achievements, prioritising self-care, and nurturing positive relationships to maintain emotional and mental well-being.”

Meanwhile, Temilade Ogunniyi, a career development strategist, counselled women to look beyond productivity in defining personal or professional success, and embrace values in positive mindset shifts, leadership, healthy relationships, and resilience.