What began as a painful, recurring skin condition has evolved into one of Zimbabwe’s most inspiring entrepreneurial stories one that now stretches across Africa and into global hospitality chains. Nigel Ruwona, a biochemist and the founder of Ona Natural Oils, is on a mission to fuse ancestral knowledge with modern science, creating a skincare empire rooted in rural empowerment, biodiversity and bold ambition.
“The constant hives I experienced after every bath were a nightmare,” Ruwona shares. “Despite countless visits to doctors and dermatologists, relief remained elusive.”
His turning point? The indigenous wisdom of his grandmother. In a quiet village in Rusape, she introduced him to Dicerocaryum seneciodes locally known as ‘feso.’ This moment marked not only his healing, but the seed of an idea that would flourish into Ona Natural Oils.
“In 2017, I embarked on a Biochemistry degree to better understand the science behind indigenous herbs and ingredients along with their potency,” Ruwona explains. “My goal was to create a sustainable business that not only provides exceptional skincare and haircare products, but also empowers communities and protects biodiversity.”
A Brand Born of Science and Soil
Founded in 2020, Ona Natural Oils is now a powerful blend of biochemistry and traditional medicine. Using vegan, organic ingredients such as marula, baobab, mongongo, mafura and feso, the company produces five ranges of daily therapy skincare and haircare products crafted for African needs.
The numbers speak volumes:
- Over five tonnes of body crème, three tonnes of oil and two tonnes of shampoo sold in the past year alone.
- Stocked in over 80 retail stores including TM Pick n Pay and Spar.
- An estimated 10,000 daily users.
- Over 30,000 product units delivered.
- Strategic luxury partnerships with Hyatt Regency Hotels across Zimbabwe, South Africa and Haiti
A Rural Revolution in Motion
But Ruwona’s impact doesn’t stop at the cash register. His vision is transforming rural economies through value addition.
“To date, we’ve trained over 400 rural women in sustainable harvesting,” he shares. “We’re transforming ‘weeds’ into wealth, creating employment for youth, and preserving our biodiversity.”
Ona Natural Oils sources more than 90% of its ingredients from Zimbabwe’s rural landscapes. With a team of 10 core employees and hundreds of grassroots collaborators, the company is creating an economic ripple effect in some of the country’s most under-resourced communities.
A Fellowship of Global Vision
Ruwona’s commitment to innovation and community has not gone unnoticed. In 2025, he was selected as a Mandela Washington Fellow an honor given to him out of 55,000 applicants across Africa. He will represent Zimbabwe at Clark Atlanta University in the U.S.
“This fellowship isn’t just about me it’s about every rural woman harvester, every young person seeking opportunity, and every community that believes in the power of indigenous knowledge,” he says.
Next Stop: Global Markets
Over the next five years, Ruwona plans to expand Ona Natural Oils by:
- Establishing five harvesting centers across Zimbabwe.
- Creating over 150 youth jobs.
- Scaling production for regional and international markets.
He envisions not just exporting products, but exporting Zimbabwean heritage, wisdom and value.
“Your current situation is not your final destination,” he says. “Keep harvesting your dreams, keep adding value to your community and watch how far your roots can take you.”
From village pots to global hotel suites, Nigel Ruwona and Ona Natural Oils are proving that Africa’s future lies in its roots literally. By commercializing indigenous plants and turning heritage into high-impact enterprise, Ruwona is not just changing skin, but changing lives.
This is not merely a skincare success story it’s a blueprint for a new kind of African entrepreneurship: deeply local, proudly traditional and fearlessly global.
