Esther Afua Ocloo, a pioneering Ghanaian entrepreneur, built an international business empire from humble beginnings. Born in 1919 in Peki Dzake, British Togoland (now Ghana), Ocloo's entrepreneurial journey began with a small financial gift from her aunt.

With this modest sum, she started making and selling marmalade in Accra, despite the ridicule of her former classmates.

Ocloo's business acumen quickly became evident as she secured contracts to supply her high school and the Royal West African Frontier Force with her products.

In 1942, she established Nkulenu Industries, the first food processing factory in the Gold Coast (now Ghana).

Her determination to succeed led her to England, where she studied Food Science and Modern Processing Techniques at Bristol University.

Upon her return to Ghana, Ocloo expanded her business and introduced commercial canning recipes.

She faced and overcame prejudice against locally produced goods by forming a manufacturers' association and organizing the first "Made-in-Ghana" goods exhibition in 1958.

Encouraged by President Kwame Nkrumah, she was elected as the first President of what became the Federation of Ghana Industries.

Ocloo's impact extended beyond her business ventures. She co-founded Women's World Banking (WWB) in 1976, a global micro-lending organization that empowers women economically.