A remembrance service has been held in honour of the late Dr. Mrs. Esther Ocloo to mark her 100th anniversary at her alma matter Achimota School.
The celebrated industrialist was the founder and first president of the Federation of Ghana Industries, now Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).
She is also heralded for promoting locally produced products and set up the Nkulenu Industries, which is still growing strong years after her death on February 8, 2002.
The service was attended by family and friends and many others who revered the industrialist.
Representatives from Nkulenu, the AGI and Women’s World Banking.
Delivering the sermon, management Consultant, Kofi Otutu Adu Larbi, paid tribute reminding of her small beginnings which culminated in Nkulenu Industries.
Esther Ocloo, maiden name Nkulenu, was born in Peki-Dzake in the Volta region of Ghana on April 18, 1919.
She was able to attend high school at Achimota School with the help of scholarships offered to young women by Cadbury, the chocolate company, which was a major buyer of Ghana’s cocoa.
She notably began her company when jobless and faced with limited options after high school.
Her aunt gave her 10 shillings, with which she bought sugar, firewood, oranges and 12 jars, and made marmalade jam, which she sold for a shilling, for a jar.
Esther Ocloo championed the role of women in economic development and advocated their access information on markets and product development.
As the first chairwoman of the microlending organisation Women’s World Banking, she pushed for poor women to get business loans needed to invest and run their businesses.
