Esther Afua Ocloo, born on 18 April 1919 in Peki-Dzake, Volta Region, Ghana, was a teenage girl when she received 50 cents from her aunt, Josephine Nkulenu. Instead of spending it, she used the money to buy oranges and make marmalade, which she sold door-to-door in Accra from 1941. Her initial sales yielded a 100% profit, marking the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey.
Ocloo's early life and education played a significant role in shaping her future. Her parents, a blacksmith and a potter and farmer, could not afford to send her to a good school. However, her aunt, Josephine Nkulenu, sponsored her education at Achimota College. After graduating, Ocloo traveled to England to study food science and preservation techniques at Bristol University between 1949 and 1951. She returned to England in 1956 to develop recipes for commercial canning.
Nkulenu Industries, founded by Ocloo, became one of Ghana's first food processing companies. The company produced various products, including orange marmalade and squash, canned jams and fruit juices, tomato paste, palm soup base, and Ga and Fanti kenkey. Ocloo's business acumen and training program for young women, which she hosted in her own home, contributed to her success. She became the first president of the Federation of Ghana Industries, now known as the Association of Ghana Industries.
Ocloo's personal life and marriage played a crucial role in her business. She and her husband, Stephen Ocloo, built their factory and family home within ten weeks on land that was previously forest. However, building her empire came at a cost, particularly time with her children. Ocloo often came home to find her baby already asleep, fed by someone else, with little opportunity for bonding.
Ocloo was known for her tough stance on empowering women. She trained young women and encouraged them to be hardworking and take responsibility for their lives. She believed that women should not use their physical limitations as excuses and should strive to succeed in a male-dominated world. Her views on women's empowerment and entrepreneurship continue to inspire generations.
Beyond her business, Ocloo ventured into politics, running for a seat in Parliament in 1969. Although she lost the election, she continued to pursue her ambitions. She co-founded Women's World Banking and received the Africa Prize for Leadership for her work in championing small-scale entrepreneurship. Google honored her 98th birthday with a doodle, recognizing her contributions to African entrepreneurship.
Esther Ocloo passed away on 8 February 2002, at the age of 82. Nkulenu Industries remains operational, exporting products worldwide, including marmalade and kenkey. The Esther Ocloo Foundation continues her legacy, training and mentoring women entrepreneurs. Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, demonstrating that success can be achieved with determination and hard work.
Key points
- Esther Ocloo built Nkulenu Industries from scratch with an initial investment of 50 cents and a bag of oranges.
- She was a pioneering female entrepreneur who empowered women through training programs and advocacy.
- Ocloo received numerous accolades, including the Africa Prize for Leadership and a Google doodle honoring her 98th birthday.
