{
  "id": 10192296,
  "title": "Fifty cents and a bag of oranges: How Esther Ocloo built Nkulenu empire",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/fifty-cents-and-a-bag-of-oranges-how-esther-ocloo-built-nkulenu-empire",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-27T10:06:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/fifty-cents-and-a-bag-of-oranges-how-esther-ocloo-built-nkulenu-empire/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Esther Afua Ocloo, born on April 18, 1919, in Peki-Dzake, Volta Region, Ghana, was just a girl when her aunt gifted her 50 cents. Instead of squandering it, she invested it wisely, using it to start a small business producing marmalade from oranges. This simple act marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that would build an empire. Growing up in a family where education was not easily accessible, Esther's aunt Josephine Nkulenu stepped in to fund her education at Achimota College. It was this initial 50 cents that turned into the foundation of what would become Nkulenu Industries, one of Ghana's first food processing companies. Her journey was not without challenges. Esther traveled to England, studying food science and preservation techniques at Bristol University, and returned in 1956 to develop commercial recipes. She trained young women, running a program in her own home, fostering a tough yet nurturing environment. Despite the demands of her business, she remained dedicated to her family, but the sacrifices were significant. In her final years, she ran for a seat in Parliament but lost the election. However, her legacy extended beyond business. She co-founded Women's World Banking and received the Africa Prize for Leadership for her work promoting small-scale entrepreneurship. Her story continues to inspire, encouraging women to work hard and challenging traditional roles. Even today, Nkulenu Industries, under the Esther Ocloo Foundation, carries on her mission, exporting marmalade, kenkey, and other products worldwide.",
  "summary": "A teenage girl received a small monetary gift of 50 cents from her aunt and decided to start a business instead of spending it. She bought some oranges and turned them into marmalade, then she went door to door with a basin of her homemade product, hoping someone would buy a jar. She made a […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nation Africa",
        "title": "Collo Blue: How Kenya’s viral sensation built a multi-stream empire",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/collo-blue-how-kenyas-viral-sensation-built-a-multi-stream-empire",
        "published": "2026-09-27T07:53:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}