Olam Agri Expands Women Empowerment Initiative Bake & Shine to the Northern Region of Cameroon
Douala, Cameroon– June 23, 2026 – Olam Agri has expanded its women empowerment initiative Bake & Shine to the Northern region of Cameroon, starting in Guider. Bake & Shine will equip women with essential skills in baking and confectionary as a pathway to entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods. This follows the successful launch of Bake & Shine in Douala in 2025, to empower women and foster resilient, thriving communities across Cameroon.
Over the course of two days, 46 participants gathered in Hotel Paradisiaque Guider for hands-on training in preparing popular products such as beignets, chin chin, doughnuts, baked peanuts, cakes, and cupcakes. Beyond practical sessions, the women received vital training in bookkeeping, savings management, online sales strategies, and leveraging social media for product placement and marketing.
In addition to skills development, participants benefited from free health screenings for cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, conducted by the District Hospital Guider. At the close of the programme, all 46 women were presented with startup kits containing essential equipment including mixing machines, flour basins, pots, and baking tools to help them launch or grow their businesses. Each participant also received a certificate of completion. The event graced the presence of the sub-divisional offer of Guider, Olam Agri top customers in Grains.
Speaking at the event, the sub divisional officer for Guider, Mohamadou Oumarou said: “Thank you Olam Agri for bringing such a programme to Guider. Programmes like this are usually paid for but you brought it free of charge and kits to the women in Guider. This will empower them and help them unlock their full potential and positively contribute to Guider and Cameroon at large.’’ He also urged the women to not discard the knowledge they’ve gained whilst at the programme. He encouraged them to use the kits given properly and live better lives.
Djomou Nathan, General Manager – Sales & Distribution for the Olam Agri Grains business in Cameroon, added: “This project is significant as it opens new doors for women to develop skills that pave the way for independent and fulfilling livelihoods. We started in the Littoral Region and here we are in the North. We deeply appreciate the women’s enthusiasm throughout the training and practical sessions and look forward to witnessing the lasting impact this initiative will bring. This initiative perfectly embodies our commitment to creating sustainable value and enhancing lives within the communities we serve.”
Olam Agri remains committed to advancing opportunities for women, enabling them to build self-sufficient and meaningful lives.
About Olam Agri
Olam Agri is a market-leading, differentiated food, feed and fibre agri-business with a global origination footprint, processing capabilities and deep understanding of market needs built over 37 years. With a strong presence in high-growth emerging markets and products across grains & oilseeds, wheat milling & pasta, rice, edible oils, animal feed & protein, cotton, wood products, rubber, sugar & biofuel, freight management and risk management solutions. We are at the heart of global food and agri-trade flows, providing affordable food staples and processed agricultural products that are daily necessities and living essentials for people around the world. Driven by our Purpose to transform food, feed and fibre for a more sustainable and food secure future, we aim to create value for customers and enable farming communities to prosper sustainably. Olam Agri is majority 80.01% owned by the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) and a 19.99% owned associated company of Olam Group. For more information and to subscribe to our news alerts, please visit https://www.olamagri.com/.
Media contact
Name: Ashu Ma-Mbeng Success
T: +237 692 338 89
E: success.ashu@olam-agri.com
