Nancy Abeiderrahmane (Entrepreneur)

Nancy Abeiderrahmane was born in Britain, but raised mainly in Spain. In 1968 she married a Mauritanian politician and moved to her adopted homeland.

In 1989, when Abeiderrahmane opened Africa’s first camel’s milk dairy in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, most Mauritanians baulked at buying processed milk. They now enjoy camel’s, goat’s and cow’s milk products from her Tiviski Dairy, made from milk bought from more than 700 local suppliers.

In 1993 she received a Rolex Laureate for her entrepreneurship and has already done much to improve the quality of life for Mauritanians through the revenue created. In her own words: "To make a living by helping others to make their living is, from a moral standpoint, simply wonderful."

Related links:

Mauritania’s Dairymaid
To the Cheese Course, Prepare to Add Camel
Camel milk: put it on your face as well as drink it