The long awaited Nestlé for Good Summit 2026 was held on Thursday, May 21st, at the Landmark Event Centre, Oniru, Lagos, with an impressive turnout of people from across Nigeria.
The theme which bordered on improving health and nutrition in Nigeria, had experts call for stronger systems, responsible business practices, and collaboration across every sector.
The Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria- Wassim Elhusseini in his opening remarks framed the company’s work around its core purpose and the need to deliver impact beyond the factory gate.
According to him, nutrition cannot be separated from the systems that produce, move and deliver food. He said:
“When we talk about nutrition, we are not only talking about food, we are talking about the supporting infrastructures for a healthy life, from preconception to healthy longevity, and about food and nutrition security.
In practice, nutrition does not start at the factory, it does not end with a product on a shelf. It is shaped by how ingredients are sourced, how food is produced, how it moves through the value chain distribution, how it is stored and how it is sold and how it reaches the people who depend on it”, he added.
Elhusseini explained further that Nestlé’s operations in Nigeria are guided by creating shared value for society and stakeholders.
“Nestle Nigeria is guided by a key purpose, which is to conduct our food to enhance quality of life for everyone today and for generations to come. We live our purpose daily, conscious that we can only achieve long-term success by creating value for society and our stakeholders.
Nestle touches lives from the responsible sourcing of raw material to the careful production in line with best manufacturing practices and to the safety first distribution, to ensuring that every product gets to the consumer in the best possible quality”, he said.
The Managing Director and CEO revealed that Nestlé’s focus has extended into strengthening rural livelihoods and the broader food ecosystem.
“This is why at Nestle, our focus extends beyond products, it extends into areas that strengthen that broader ecosystem to include strengthening rural livelihoods, while investing in grain quality improvement, daily development, women empowerment, youth upskilling, and protecting our shared natural resources by promoting regenerative agriculture, supporting water efficiency and true and true circularity.
We have seen something consistent when livelihoods improve and systems work better, families are healthier and communities are more resilient”, Elhusseini said.
According to him: “Today is not just about conversations, it is also about demonstrating impact. My colleagues will be telling you why doing good comes naturally to us as the Good Food, Good Life Company. You will also hear from the beneficiaries of the various programs under three key pillars: nutrition, thriving communities and of course, the planet”.
Elhusseini while introducing Nestlé for Good, described it as the company’s daily expression of value creation.
“Nestle for Good is not a new strategy. Nestle for Good is not a change in direction. It is our shared impact story and expression of how we create value daily.
Progress towards a sustainable food and nutrition system depends on collaboration across government, across the industry, and across healthcare professionals and development partners, academia, civil society, communities, families, and all individuals”, Elhusseini stated.
In conclusion, Elhusseini thanked partners and attendees for their role in driving change, while looking forward to a very rewarding time for everyone.
The summit also had breakout sessions on nutrition security, community livelihoods, and sustainable practices.
