Being a brand today must be more than just what one sells, a brand must become a voice that stands for something. Sunlight detergent not only revolutionized the industry in Nigeria, but it has also made the cause of women empowerment a priority.
Sunlight was launched globally in the 1800s and, since its inception and the formal launch of Sunlight in Nigeria in 2009, its purpose has been to make life easier for people, with a focus on women. The story has not changed even now as Sunlight acts as a bridge between women and their opportunities, to empower and encourage women to be the best they can be at every stage of their life. The brand has initiatives which focus on empowering women – It is a leading brand in the Unilever Shakti program, which provides products for women in rural areas to sell in their communities as small scale traders and is now in 12 states, empowering over 3000 women.
Sunlight has also set up Sunlight Water Centers around Nigeria, where women entrepreneurs run a for-profit centre to provide clean water to their communities and run their small business alongside.
In 2019, Sunlight has chosen to use the platform of fashion as another vehicle for empowerment and will be working with Style House Files and Lagos Fashion Week to bring this to life. In April 2019, two Nigerian fashion designers; Chechi Arinze and Titi Belo, benefitted from Sunlight’s initiative to support young female entrepreneurs. They both received the sum of two million Naira (NGN 2, 000, 000). They were chosen for their passion to make an impact and to empower others. “This initiative will help so many women in fashion as we, in turn, will provide training to the women that are coming after us,” Belo said. Arinze added: “This fund will enable me to impact more women and businesses around me.”
From August to October 2019, there will be a series of engagements in which Sunlight will participate including fashion Focus Talks and Lagos Fashion Week.
Sunlight’s decision to get involved in Nigeria’s fashion industry couldn’t have come at a better time. The industry sees an influx of brilliant designers emerging annually and Sunlight’s involvement will help to take the designers to the next phase of their careers and more importantly, increase their ability to impact and empower others.
