The Nation Newspaper

Category: Women In Business

  • Fatayi-Williams: Mainstreaming gender diversity in business

    Fatayi-Williams: Mainstreaming gender diversity in business

    She left the oil and gas industry after nearly three decades of a lucrative and rewarding career. But the obvious lack of diversity in the industry, and by extension, the business world, propelled entrepreneur and women/child rights advocate Dame Marie Fatayi-Williams into throwing her hat in the women empowerment ring. Today, the 68-year-old seasoned private sector administrator is stopping at nothing in mainstreaming gender diversity in the entrepreneurship and corporate space. She shares her intriguing story with Assistant Editor OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE.

    She has never hidden her belief that breaking barriers for women in business is a step towards creating a more diverse and inclusive society. This reality first hit entrepreneur and women rights advocate Dame Marie Fatayi-Williams during her almost three decades’ career in the oil and gas industry, where she came face to face with the lack of diversity in the business world. And upon leaving the industry, she has since thrown her weight behind the campaign to change the narrative and give women greater visibility in the business and innovation sectors.

    For Mrs. Fatayi-Williams, it’s a battle that must be won hence the remarkable passion and grit she has brought to bear in propelling women entrepreneurs to explore emerging opportunities in the business space. A large community of women and the girl child she has so far helped to take their first steps in the exciting world of business bear eloquent testimony to the success of her relentless campaign so far.

    In doing so, the 68-year-old seasoned private sector administrator has never stopped emphasising the need to inspire, mirror, and transform women in order to build a new future for them and the country at large.

    Mrs. Fatayi-Williams justified her passion to prioritise gender diversity and empowerment thus: “Women are the bedrock of society right from the grass roots, but they are the most deprived, marginalised and discriminated against in terms of right to education, empowerment and basic human rights.They bear the brunt of wars and instability in society; they deprive themselves for the good of their children and family because they are able to multi-task and manage meagre resources to sustain their dignity even as poor rural farmers, petty traders or even workers for those that are educated.”

    Her commitment to promoting social entrepreneurship and sustainability and supporting young women entrepreneurs to develop innovative ideas that can make a positive impact in their communities is total. “I have a keen interest in the human condition in general and in the ways and means to redress inequalities, alleviate suffering and stem poverty, she told The Nation, emphasising: “The uplifting of the status of women and youths, who indeed fall within the bracket of the ‘poorest of the poor’ in society is of great interest because I believe in women empowerment.”

    Dame Fatayi-Williams and indeed, other frontline women rights advocates, are on the same page that women’s silent contribution to nation building needs to be recognised and factored into its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to them, women need to be empowered to rise from endemic generational poverty. They have stopped reminding whoever cares to listen that if you educate and empower a woman, you empower a nation. And it was this thinking that, particularly, inspired Dame Fatayi-Williams, a former General Manager of EIF, to get involved in campaigns aimed at ensuring that the benefits of a growing economy are distributed equitably to all segments of the society.

    Dame Fatayi-Williams’ passion for inclusive growth was, however, inspired by her rich experience in the gender equality and empowerment space. For instance, in 1996/97, she was elected president of International Women’s Society, (IWS), Lagos. And in that capacity, she set up and became the initiator of a Skills Acquisition Centre/Secretariat in Lekki, for the empowerment of disadvantaged youths, in either of five skills available with a yearly turnout of about 100 graduates in various trades. The Skills Centre is still up and running almost 25 years on.

    Again, in 1998/9, in collaboration with Elf Foundation, she initiated the construction and establishment of the first mother and child clinic at Alimosho Local Government Headquarters ground, in Lagos State. Then, it was the most disadvantaged local government area of the state. This is in addition to a multi-purpose Amphitheatre Gazebo for educational health talks in the same premises. “My work also facilitated the opportunity to work for the rehabilitation of the Maroko evacuees and the Liberian refugees,” Mrs. Fatayi-Williams added.

    The social entrepreneur, however, stated that to change the status quo, namely the nation’s entrepreneurial and development narrative, there is the need to start from the bottom and return to the grassroots of communities and local governments where the population is largely agrarian. She expressed the belief that women could make significant leaps forward if their position in both the urban and the rural areas improve. “One of these is to reduce the education gap, and making farming a particularly rewarding business and income generation for the women farmers,” she said.

     Mrs. Fatayi-Williams also stressed the need for the government to consider rural industrialisation, including getting more women to be involved in economic activities and the workforce. She, however, expressed regrets: “Unfortunately, our local government system is not working as expected. It would have been the best linkage to provide the needed empowerment for rural women.”

    According to her, differences still exist within the rural areas and the urban centres, and state and local government budgetary allocation are not well implemented.

    “Because of lack of monitoring and evaluation of service delivery, the people get taken for a ride and monies frittered away. It’s high time the masses get educated on how to hold their leaders responsible for budgetary provisions by following performance and service delivery,” Mrs. Fatayi-Williams stated. While advocating the rights of women to be given enough entrepreneurship training, she said  women could be made to play a major role in government, business and all other segments of the society.

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    According to her, “A transparent and inclusive state and local government administration is the answer. This is why the grassroots should be involved in governance, they bear the burden, especially women and children. They can and should be trained to monitor what is happening with the subventions or budgets of their states and local governments. They should monitor and follow the money trail and call their leaders to account.”

    She said this would make politicians answerable to the people as nothing would be hidden, especially the money allocated for constituency projects by the National Assembly and how it is spent. “Are there verifiable projects on ground to match what was approved? This will not only make the politicians to work hard and endear themselves to the people by coming up with projects that their people can relate with but also make them accountable.

    “Then the skylines of our communities will start to change commensurate to the developmental projects attracted and executed by the people’s representatives and leaders. Same goes for local government allocations. Women can be extremely fearless and trusted gatekeepers. So, let’s rise up together and shake the political table for the benefit of generations yet unborn” she said.

     Mrs. Fatayi-Williams urged Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to train men and women leaders to ask questions on budgetary allocations to local governments and how they are used, crosscheck supposed completed projects and follow through as a community. She argued that if this is done, politicians would know that they are being monitored by those they are supposed to be representing and they will do the right thing rather than frittering the commonwealth away as it is the case now.

    She insisted that a vast potential exists in entrepreneurship and providing women-led businesses access to opportunities, but expressed concern that various women ministries in the states and the federal level are not doing enough. Her words: “While very few are empowering women in the real sense of the word- the majority are not. One of the basic flaws is having non-gender sensitised women at the helm of affairs. Most of those in charge cannot tell you the genesis of the Women Ministry and what  it was set up to achieve.”

    As far as Mrs. Fatayi-Williams is concerned, the time has come for either an reorientation of the Women Ministry or its confinement to the dustbin of history. “A national women’s conference is very urgent and timely and should be convened soonest either by a massive coalition of NGOs or by the First Lady. Nigerian women cannot afford to keep moving 10 steps forward and 50 backwards!” she told The Nation.

    She also said governors’ wives and their projects should be well-thought through for sustainability unlike the practice where every First Lady wants to have her project and the next one comes and discontinues it even if it’s good for the people.

    “I don’t expect all the states to have the same project; rather they should look at their core competences and passion then key into it and carry the women along.

    “The idea is to look at the gaps in your state, align it with your passion and develop a project or projects to fill that gap with zeal for the benefit of women and children more so those in the grass root. All states in our nation are mightily blessed. What we need is the political will to put and do things right for the greater good of the greater number of people. Let social justice and the common good be the mantra of all those in positions of authority,” she stated.

    Sharing her thoughts on entrepreneurship, Dame Fatayi-Williams emphasised the importance of innovation in driving business processes and maintaining connection between offline and online sales. She, however, expressed concern about the negative impact of implicit taxation on the economy. She said: “This is something I picked up from the brilliant lecture recently delivered by the Managing Director, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, at the Awolowo Foundation Leadership Prize Awards.

    “He (Adesina) was very clear about implicit tax. I agree fully with him that Nigerians fall under the bracket of the over taxed worldwide because we are paying for everything. We not only pay normal tax but also pay for what we have provided ourselves. Most homes provide their electricity, potable water, refuse disposal, transportation and contribute to community roads and security, yet the government will come back to still tax us further.’’ ‘‘For what exactly?”

    Dame Fatayi- Williams reiterated that Nigerian women are ambitious and are determined to create their own businesses as they identify a demand in the market. She expressed happiness with the examples of remarkable women who are making a difference in the tech and entrepreneurship world in Nigeria, for instance, noting that through their vision, leadership, and hard work, they are fostering innovation, inclusion, and empowerment, and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators in the country.

    For her, their success stories have served as inspiration to women worldwide and underscore the importance of creating equal opportunities for all. She said it was in a bid to sustain this that some distinguished and influential women established the Cosmopolitan Women Club (CWC) in 2005 to support female entrepreneurship and encourage innovation and push them into the workforce.

    Interestingly, Dame Fatayi- Williams is the present president of CWC, which was founded by some distinguished Nigerian Women as a membership social and charitable club open to select and distinguished women in Lagos not below the age of 50. The club has a distinguished array of women elders amongst others, who have made their mark in society in the government, corporate and entrepreneurial world but still stand ready to give back to society.

    The CWC president stated that the association has a compelling drive in capacity building to empower women and youth through the creation of opportunities for business start- ups and or up-scaling and up-skilling opportunities to ensure sustainable development through touching lives positively.

    Presently, the club runs a scholarship scheme for gifted but needy students with disabilities in partnership with Pacelli School for the blind. CWC has its annual round table which is a high impact event that attracts women and men from diverse backgrounds to hear from and be inspired by speakers on issues pertaining to women’s economic and political inclusion as well as burning contemporary issues.

  • ‘Our goal is to empower women, youths in agriculture‘

    ‘Our goal is to empower women, youths in agriculture‘

    Dr. Idongesit Mbaram is the founder and chief executive of Sustainable Agro and Hunger Eradication (SAHE) Foundation, which trains young persons to become successful agri-entrepreneurs through workshops, seminars, and practical sessions. She quit a rewarding 14-year career in the banking industry to dedicate her resources and expertise to advancing sustainable agriculture in Nigeria. With over 5,000 youths trained in organic farming by the Foundation, Idongesit shares her belief that equipping women and youths with necessary skills and knowledge can help harness the full potential of agriculture with DANIEL ESSIET.

    Her belief that agriculture is one of the sectors with the most potential to drive economic growth and employment creation is total, so also her passion for shared prosperity and hunger eradication anchored on exploiting the largely untapped potential in agriculture. This, among other factors, led the founder and Chief Executive of Sustainable Agro and Hunger Eradication (SAHE) Foundation, Dr. (Mrs.) Idongesit Mbaram, to establish the Foundation in 2017.

    Since then, Idongesit, who quit a 14-year hugely rewarding career in the banking industry, has thrown her resources and expertise into grooming the next generation of agri-entrepreneurs.

    “I spent 14 years in the banking industry, including 11 years at Zenith Bank Plc as a Relationship Manager and three years at Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, now Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc), where I served as a Branch Manager. For over seven years, I have dedicated myself to advancing sustainable agriculture in Nigeria through active and strategic engagement with industry stakeholders,” Idongesit told The Nation.

    She added that she had participated in relevant seminars and workshops on agriculture and agribusiness, both domestically and internationally.

    “I’ve visited the United States of America three times and Paris, France twice for seminars, agric expos and workshops,” she said.

    Idongesit, who has never hidden her passion for food security, said she had collaborated with various technical experts worldwide to promote sustainable agriculture, particularly among women and youths.

    “My passion for shared prosperity and hunger eradication, among other factors, led to the founding of the SAHE Foundation in 2017, she emphasised.

    She, noting, however, that in feeding her passion for shared prosperity and hunger eradication, she discovered that women had less access to economic prosperity although they made up a substantial percentage of those who farm on small holdings.

    Her words: “Women, despite constituting a significant portion of smallholder farmers, often face barriers to economic prosperity in agriculture. At SAHE Foundation, we recognize this disparity and strive to address it through various initiatives such as training/capacity building workshops, access to resources, market linkages, financial support, technology adoption, policy advocacy, health and well-being programmes, community empowerment and awareness campaigns to challenge stereotypes. Through our information hub, we also shed light on the experiences of women in agribusiness, advocating for policies and programs that promote gender equality and empower women economically.”

    To encourage young women to get involved in agri-businesses, Idongesit established a tutorial school to allow them pursue careers in agri-business.

    “We established Divine Tutorials, a worldwide school offering a comprehensive curriculum that includes not only agriculture but also all subjects, including French. Our aim is to provide a well-rounded education for youths globally, with a particular focus on primary and secondary school students.

    “Students have the opportunity to connect virtually and offline. At Divine Tutorials, we are passionate advocates for accessible and flexible education. We recognize that every learner is unique, and our mission is to connect students with experienced tutors and teachers who can support them on their educational journey, regardless of their age or background,” she explained

    Idongesit said the goal was to empower them with the confidence and skills needed to succeed, not only in the agriculture industry but in any field they chose. The school offers regular educational tours to school children to educate them on growing their own food.

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    “I’ve been visiting schools in Lagos and Ogun State such as Royal KRISTON College, Deeper Life High School and Jextoban Secondary School, among others, and I also plan to expand to other locations.

    “These sessions aim to educate students on the significance of agriculture, sustainable food production, and career opportunities in the field,” she stated, emphasising that engaging young minds is crucial in fostering future generations of agricultural and educational leaders.

    Underscoring the Foundation’s extensive reach and network, Idongesit said in 2020, the SAHE Foundation collaborated with a partner from Ghana who was trained in the UK on organic farming to conduct training sessions for secondary school students on organic farming techniques.

    “They were taught how to utilise disposable buckets and sacks to grow food in their backyards and schools. The Foundation organised these tours to different schools in Lagos. Overall, it has trained over 5,000 youths in organic farming. We believe that by equipping youths with the necessary skills and knowledge, we can harness the full potential of agriculture to transform livelihoods and communities,” she explained.

    Justifying her preoccupation with empowering women, Dr. Idongesit said, over the years, she had noticed that women often faced barriers in advancing their careers, including lack of representation in leadership roles and societal expectations. To overcome these challenges, she said women couldfocus on building confidence, advocating for themselves, and seeking out mentorship and support networks.

    She insisted that companies would benefit immensely from having more women at the top.

    Her words: “Companies stand to benefit significantly from having more women in leadership positions. Diversity in leadership brings different perspectives, fosters innovation, and enhances decision-making processes. Moreover, gender-balanced leadership promotes inclusivity and reflects the diverse workforce and customer base.”

    To the next generation of female leaders, Idongesit has these success nuggets: “Embrace your individuality and strengths. Don’t be afraid to break down stereotypes and challenge the status quo. Seek mentors and build a strong network of support. Focus on continuous learning and skill development. Be confident, persistent, and resilient in the face of challenges.”

    She said she believes in mentors. “I have immense respect and admiration for countless women who have paved the way for others in various fields. Specifically, I would like to mention Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She stands out as a beacon of inspiration. Her achievements whisper a powerful message to me, “If she could do it, I can bloom.” She has been very successful. She owes it to divine enablement,” Idongesit.

    The banker-turned entrepreneurship coach, however, said her belief in the God-factor and the conviction that with determination, anything is achievable, as stated in the scriptures, has always kept her mindset positive. “I also ensure to work hard diligently, adhering to success and kingdom principles, one of which is that if my actions may harm others, I refrain from them,” she added.

    Moreover, she said her greatest joy and biggest success factor lies in witnessing people succeed in life. “My passion for empowering women in agriculture has been the driving force behind my success. However, I wouldn’t have reached this point without the unwavering support of my husband, dedicated mentors and colleagues, both men and women,” Idongesit said.

    Though evidently successful, Idongesit admitted having her fair share of gender-related roadblocks in her entrepreneurial journey. “While the agricultural industry is making strides towards inclusivity, being a woman in this traditionally male-dominated field has presented me with unique challenges. But instead of dwelling on these past hurdles, I prefer to direct my energy towards forging new pathways for other women to thrive in this space,” she said.

    Indeed, from unconscious biases and harmful stereotypes to limitations in opportunities, navigating these challenges has been an undeniable part of Idongesit’s experience. However, she chose to approach these obstacles by leveraging her strengths and remaining a vocal advocate for equitable treatment and opportunities for all genders in the workplace. “This focus on progress and empowerment continues to be a driving force in my efforts,” she stated.

    She also learns from her mistakes. “I can’t forget this moment. In 2016, there was an opportunity for me to be interviewed by the BBC because our CEO was in Australia and they needed someone from AgroNigeria to speak about our work. However, due to my shyness and lack of outspokenness at the time, I declined the interview. It was a missed opportunity that I now realize I could easily have handled, as over the years I have developed my communication skills and confidence,” she recalled.

    In the midst of her busy schedule, Idongesit has found a convenient way of taking care of herself, family and maintaining a good mental health. “It’s an ongoing process but I prioritise self-care by setting clear boundaries between work and personal life. I delegate tasks and build a strong team I can trust. I also engage in activities that bring me joy and relaxation such as spending time with loved ones and connecting with nature. I also take breaks to combat stress.”

  • ‘Our desire is to contribute to global food supply, security’

    ‘Our desire is to contribute to global food supply, security’

    Mrs. Edobong Akpabio is the Executive Director, Greenport Nigeria, a greenhouse horticulture impact cluster, with a vision to empower the next generation of horticulturists and promote inclusive and sustainable agriculture, thereby laying the foundation for food security in Nigeria. She shares the story of how the organisation, with its partners, is leveraging the impact cluster to train farmers in latest techniques and technologies to grow crops to feed the local population and create a sustainable source of income with DANIEL ESSIET.

    She successfully leveraged her training and consulting background to kick-start a flourishing career in business consultancy focused on agriculture, technology management, and entrepreneurship development. Today, the Executive Director, Greenport Nigeria, a greenhouse horticulture impact cluster, Mrs. Edobong Akpabio, has become the reference point in agro-entrepreneurship training to help farmers run their businesses better.

    She is helping to close, or at least, bridge the knowledge and skills gap in the agric industry where, since exiting paid employment, her commitment to empowering the next generation of horticulturists has been quite visible.

    “Entrepreneurship found me the moment I made up my mind to exit paid employment and my choice sector to start my business was agriculture,” Edobong recalled.

    Shortly after turning her back on paid employment, Edobong said she discovered the knowledge and skills gap in the industry.

    “My training and consulting background kicked in and I began to engage in agro-entrepreneurship training to help farmers run their businesses better.” And as she got involved with more farmers in training programmes, collaborations, and projects, she began to better understand the mindset, experience, challenges, and dreams of Smallholder Farmer (SHF) or rural farmers.

     “It was at this point that I transited again, this time to social entrepreneurship. I’m determined to build on that nexus between agriculture and community development,” Edobong declared, adding that she has been in search of innovations primed to ignite fresh opportunities, spur demand, and trigger economic growth; her priority is to push for greater change in the agriculture sector.

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     Consequent upon her avowed commitment to help change the dynamics in the agric sector, Edobong channeled her expertise, energy and resources to grooming a community of food producers. And her efforts in this regard paid off, with Edobong expressing joy over the emergence of young entrepreneurs who are now changing the agri-business space by creating wealth for themselves and others.

     Edobong reiterated that the establishment of Greenport Nigeria was relevant and timely in the context of agribusiness in Nigeria. Her words: “I serve currently as Executive Director in Greenport Impact Cluster Nigeria Ltd, a purpose-built organisation for the promotion and enhancement of cluster agribusiness in Nigeria.

    “At Greenport Nigeria, we believe that partnership and collaboration will speed up the growth and progress of the agriculture sector, and so, we’re building mutually beneficial relationships with partners in the industry, academia and government bodies to ensure that the sector and the players achieve greater productivity, profitability and sustainability.

    “My colleagues and I have gathered decades of knowledge and experience in the industry as business owners and come to the conclusion that the ‘forest’ that the industry needs to ‘make’ will not be the perspiration of ‘one tree’ but through partnership and collaboration. We faced challenges running our ‘silos’ enterprise journeys and came to the conclusion that this is the way to go.”

    She explained that one of the goals of the organisation is to use science and technology to improve the livelihoods of farmers. “Our partners include promoters of agritech and other technologies that can provide better efficiency and profitability for agribusinesses.

    “We will engage them, share our operational structure with them, provide them with information about the sector and industry and the ROI expectation of business owners, so they understand that technology, for us, is an enabler, a solution, and not a bragging right,” Edobong stated.

    According to her, there are many technologies for the improvement of businesses in the food industry and her organisation is engaging the promoter and looking forward to more innovations in the future.

    “The organisation supports the idea of grass root entrepreneurial seed producers in the rural areas and is ready to train them on improved agronomic and business management practices,” she said.

    As she explained, “Seeds are at the core of the life of the crop farming business. They are what plants need to be able to grow and survive. The quality of the seed, therefore, is the foundation of any successful agribusiness. At Greenport Nigeria, we are concerned about seeds that are both climate-resilient as well as pest-resilient.

    “In order to ensure that our cluster communities have access to good seeds for their businesses, we will provide them with the knowledge, through training, on how to identify and propagate good quality seeds, and also engage government agencies responsible for seeds standards, monitoring and regulation, to contribute to the developments in that sub-sector.”

    Greenport Nigeria, The Nation learnt, was established and incorporated in 2022, but in such a short time, it has had widespread goodwill and influence in the industry as the voice of cluster agriculture in Nigeria. Apart from building capacities, the organisation is taking the issue of food waste seriously.

    Edobong observed, for instance, that “Food waste/food loss is a massive global problem. There are too many reasons for food waste – bad weather, processing problems, over-production, unstable markets, inadequate recycling facilities, irresponsible consumption, food politics, etc. As much as we desire to contribute hugely to global food supply and food security efforts, Greenport Nigeria will embrace smart agribusiness practices to minimize food waste.”

    She said so far, the organisation is happy to be reckoned as a player in the quest to improve local entrepreneurship in agriculture through agribusiness cluster formation and the development of collaborative value chains. She added that in the next five years, the plan is to spread the message of agro wealth across Nigeria through the establishment of clusters for agribusiness development and transformation.

    Indeed, for the Greenport Nigeria boss, agriculture has the capacity to create huge opportunities with young entrepreneurs modifying their business-models and exploiting market opportunities. And it was in furtherance of this that Greenport Nigeria established a cluster that brought together a consortium of local and international partners to train local farmers in the latest techniques and technologies.

    Some of the partners include Viscon NL, Priva NL, Seed2Feed NL, Leiden Delft Erasmus NL, Koppert Biological Systems NL, JMSF Agribusiness Nigeria Ltd, Pan African Seeds NL, Eupesia Place Nigeria, and the African Farmers Stories Initiative. The training allows local farmers to grow crops to feed the local population and to create a sustainable source of income.

    Greenport Nigeria provides the latest in seed technology, greenhouses, and biological pest control solutions that can be replicated across the country. The company’s collaboration with innovators will leverage their expertise and technology to create a self-sustainable greenhouse horticulture sector in Nigeria, where locally grown crops will form the backbone of the country’s food system.

    Edobong believes that with Nigeria’s population growth rate still among the highest in Africa, with roughly 200 million people, it is important to inspire different stakeholders in the agriculture landscape to have a sense of urgency in solving the issues in food production and consumption.

    “Ordinarily, large population should not be a problem for any country the size of Nigeria. Nigeria is endowed with enormous material resources, especially in agriculture that can deliver immense benefits to our economy and the living standard of our people,” she said, noting, however, that “My concern is that our people are not strategically galvanized for productivity and resourcefulness.”

    As Edobong put it, “We are industrious, no doubt about that, but lack the conducive environment to translate these to growth and advancement. This, to me, is what makes our large population a burden rather than a blessing. 

    “In countries where agriculture offers a roadmap for empowering farmers, ensuring food security, and propelling the sector towards a brighter future, the emphasis is on modernizing the farm sector through greater investments in upgraded storage, streamlined supply chains and branding to enhance overall efficiency and competitiveness.”

    She lamented that in Nigeria, the agric sector is facing a supply chain problem with cases of delays in deliveries from various suppliers. Her words: “Supply chain inefficiency in the agriculture sector in Nigeria stems from infrastructural failure – poor development and poorer maintenance.

    “Our agricultural products, food and non-food, come mostly from the rural areas where they are produced to the urban areas where they are consumed but the rural areas have possibly the worst transportation network. The roads are terrible, where they exist, and have no rhyme or rhythm. There are poorly conceived rail networks, where they exist, to facilitate the movement of agro-cargo; and the cargo airports are busy moving passengers.”

    In addition, Edobong said there’s manifest lack of standards and regulation. She insisted that the government needs to double efforts to support value addition, boost farmers’ income and reposition the sector for inclusive and balanced growth and productivity.

    Another area of concern to the seasoned agro-entrepreneur and trainer is irrigation. She captured her frustration in this regard thus: “Nigeria has lots of water bodies which can be utilised for multiple purposes, including irrigation for crop agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, etc.

    “These water bodies provide huge potential for the development of agriculture in Nigeria. The government (federal, state, and local governments) needs to provide, adopt and implement policies that will guide the utilization of these assets to enhance the nation’s growth and development.”

    She also harped on the need for all the tiers of government to set and monitor quality standards for fertilisers, seeds and machinery, and leave the business of production, distribution, sales and services to the private sector.

    Edobong also emphasised that infrastructure projects should address productivity and logistical challenges that limit output and export capacity. “All are priority requirements for the growth of the agriculture sector in Nigeria today – road, rail, air, electricity, energy, policies, justice system, security of lives and property,” she said.

    Others are extension services, inter-government agency cohesion and support (federal, state, local government, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), academic institutions, research institutions, foreign embassies, and many more.

    “We also need to address our customs/export procedures and facilities, shipping procedures and facilities, eliminate the notorious incidents of extortion of agro-businesses on our roads, arrest insecurity that prevents farmers from going to their farms and causing enormous loss of lives and property, provide information and knowledge on the nation’s export policies and support system etc,” she added.

  • ‘Our desire is to contribute to global food supply, security’

    ‘Our desire is to contribute to global food supply, security’

    Mrs. Enobong Akpabio is the Executive Director, Greenport Nigeria, a greenhouse horticulture impact cluster, with a vision to empower the next generation of horticulturists and promote inclusive, sustainable agriculture, thereby laying the foundation for food security in Nigeria. She shares the story of how the organisation, with its partners, is leveraging the impact cluster to train local farmers in the latest techniques and technologies to grow crops to feed the local population and create a sustainable source of income with DANIEL ESSIET.

    She leveraged her training and consulting background to kick-start a flourishing career in business consultancy focused on agriculture, technology management, and entrepreneurship development. Today, the Executive Director, Greenport Nigeria, a greenhouse horticulture impact cluster, Mrs. Enobong Akpabio, has become the reference point in agro-entrepreneurship training to help farmers run their businesses better.

     She is helping to close, or at least, bridge the knowledge and skills gap in the agric industry where, since exiting paid employment, her commitment to empowering the next generation of horticulturists has been quite visible. “Entrepreneurship found me the moment I made up my mind to exit paid employment and my choice sector to start my business was agriculture,” Enobong recalled.

       Shortly after, Enobong said she discovered the knowledge and skills gap in the industry and pronto, “My training and consulting background kicked in and I began to engage in agro-entrepreneurship training to help farmers run their businesses better.” And as she got involved with more farmers in training, collaborations, and projects, she began to better understand the mindset, experience, challenges, and dreams of Smallholder Farmer (SHF) or rural farmers.

     “It was at this point that I transited again, this time to social entrepreneurship. I’m determined to build on that nexus between agriculture and community development,” Enobong declared, adding that she has been in search of innovations primed to ignite fresh opportunities, spur demand, and trigger economic growth; her priority is to push for greater change in the agriculture sector.

     Consequent upon her avowed commitment to help change the dynamics in the agric sector, Enobong channelled her expertise, energy and resources to grooming a community of food producers. And her efforts in this regard paid off, with Enobong expressing joy over the emergence of young entrepreneurs who are now changing the agri-business space by creating wealth for themselves and others.

     Enobong reiterated that the establishment of Greenport Nigeria was relevant and timely in the context of agribusiness in Nigeria. Her words: “I serve as Executive Director in Greenport Impact Cluster Nigeria Limited, a purpose-built organisation for the promotion and enhancement of cluster agribusiness in Nigeria.

     “At Greenport Nigeria, we believe that partnership and collaboration will speed up the growth and progress of the agriculture sector, and so, we’re building mutually beneficial relationships with partners in the industry, academia and government bodies to ensure that the sector and the players achieve greater productivity, profitability and sustainability.

     “My colleagues and I have gathered decades of knowledge and experience in the industry as business owners and come to the conclusion that the ‘forest’ that the industry needs to ‘make’ will not be the perspiration of ‘one tree’ but through partnership and collaboration. We faced challenges running our ‘silos’ enterprise journeys and came to the conclusion that this is the way to go.”

     She explained that one of the goals of the organisation is to use science and technology to improve the livelihoods of farmers. “Our partners include promoters of agritech and other technologies that can provide better efficiency and profitability for agribusinesses.

     “We will engage them, share our operational structure with them, provide them with information about the sector and industry and the ROI expectation of business owners, so they understand that technology, for us, is an enabler, a solution, and not a bragging right,” Enobong stated.

     According to her, there are several technologies for the improvement of businesses in the food industry and her organisation is engaging the promoters and looking forward to more innovations in the future. “The organisation supports the idea of grass root entrepreneurial seed producers in the rural areas and is ready to train them on improved agronomic and business management practices,” she said.

     As she explained, “Seeds are at the core of the life of the crop farming business. They are what plants need to be able to grow and survive. The quality of the seed, therefore, is the foundation of any successful agribusiness. At Greenport Nigeria, we are concerned about seeds that are both climate-resilient as well as pest-resilient.

     “To ensure that our cluster communities have access to good seeds for their businesses, we will provide them with the knowledge, through training, on how to identify and propagate good quality seeds, and also engage government agencies responsible for seeds standards, monitoring and regulation, to contribute to the developments in that sub-sector.”

     Greenport Nigeria, The Nation learnt, was established and incorporated in 2022, but in such a short time, it has had widespread goodwill and influence in the industry as the voice of cluster agriculture in Nigeria. Apart from building capacities, the organisation is taking the issue of food waste seriously.

     Enobong observed, for instance, that “Food waste/food loss is a massive global problem. There are too many reasons for food waste – bad weather, processing problems, over-production, unstable markets, inadequate recycling facilities, irresponsible consumption, food politics, etc. As much as we desire to contribute hugely to global food supply and food security efforts, Greenport Nigeria will embrace smart agribusiness practices to minimise food waste.”

     She said so far, the organisation is happy to be reckoned as a player in the quest to improve local entrepreneurship in agriculture through agribusiness cluster formation and the development of collaborative value chains. She added that in the next five years, the plan is to spread the message of agro wealth across Nigeria through the establishment of clusters for agribusiness development and transformation.

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     Indeed, for the Greenport Nigeria boss, agriculture has the capacity to create huge opportunities with young entrepreneurs modifying their business-models and exploiting market opportunities. And it was in furtherance of this that Greenport Nigeria established a cluster that brought together a consortium of local and international partners to train local farmers in the latest techniques and technologies.

     Some of the partners include Viscon NL, Priva NL, Seed2Feed NL, Leiden Delft Erasmus NL, Koppert Biological Systems NL, JMSF Agribusiness Nigeria Ltd, Pan African Seeds NL, Eupesia Place Nigeria, and the African Farmers Stories Initiative. The training allows local farmers to grow crops to feed the local population and to create a sustainable source of income.

     Greenport Nigeria provides the latest in seed technology, greenhouses, and biological pest control solutions that can be replicated across the country. The company’s collaboration with innovators will leverage their expertise and technology to create a self-sustainable greenhouse horticulture sector in Nigeria, where locally grown crops will form the backbone of the country’s food system.

      Enobong believes that with Nigeria’s population growth rate still among the highest in Africa, with roughly 200 million people, it is important to inspire different stakeholders in the agriculture landscape to have a sense of urgency in solving the issues in food production and consumption.

     “Ordinarily, large population should not be a problem for any country the size of Nigeria. Nigeria is endowed with enormous material resources, especially in agriculture that can deliver immense benefits to our economy and the living standard of our people,” she said, noting, however: “My concern is that our people are not strategically galvanised for productivity and resourcefulness.”

      As Enobong put it, “We are industrious, no doubt about that, but lack the conducive environment to translate these to growth and advancement. This, to me, is what makes our large population a burden rather than a blessing. 

     “In countries where agriculture offers a roadmap for empowering farmers, ensuring food security, and propelling the sector towards a brighter future, the emphasis is on modernising the farm sector through greater investments in upgraded storage, streamlined supply chains and branding to enhance overall efficiency and competitiveness.”

       She lamented that in Nigeria, the agric sector is facing a supply chain problem with cases of delays in deliveries from various suppliers. Her words: “Supply chain inefficiency in the agriculture sector in Nigeria stems from infrastructural failure – poor development and poorer maintenance.

      “Our agricultural products, food and non-food, come mostly from the rural areas where they are produced to the urban areas where they are consumed but the rural areas have possibly the worst transportation network. The roads are terrible, where they exist, and have no rhyme or rhythm.There are poorly conceived rail networks, where they exist, to facilitate the movement of agro-cargo; and the cargo airports are busy moving passengers.”

     In addition, Enobong said there’s manifest lack of standards and regulation. She insisted that the government needs to double efforts to support value addition, boost farmers’ income and reposition the sector for inclusive and balanced growth and productivity.

      Another area of concern to the seasoned agro-entrepreneur and trainer is irrigation. She captured her frustration in this regard thus: “Nigeria has lots of water bodies which can be utilised for multiple purposes, including irrigation for crop agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, etc.

     “These water bodies provide huge potential for the development of agriculture in Nigeria. The government (federal, state, and local governments) needs to provide, adopt and implement policies that will guide the utilisation of these assets to enhance the nation’s growth and development.”

     She also harped on the need for all the tiers of government to set and monitor quality standards for fertilisers, seeds and machinery, and leave the business of production, distribution, sales and services to the private sector.

     Enobong also emphasised that infrastructure projects should address productivity and logistical challenges that limit output and export capacity. “All are priority requirements for the growth of the agriculture sector in Nigeria – road, rail, air, electricity, energy, policies, justice system, security of lives and property,” she said.

      Others are extension services, inter-government agency cohesion and support (federal, state, local government, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), academic institutions, research institutions, foreign embassies, and many more.

     “We also need to address our customs/export procedures and facilities, shipping procedures and facilities, eliminate the notorious incidents of extortion of agro-businesses on our roads, arrest insecurity that prevents farmers from going to their farms and causing enormous loss of lives and property, provide information and knowledge on the nation’s export policies and support system etc.,” she added.

  • Ogochukwu: challenging gender stereotypes, pushing reforms

    Ogochukwu: challenging gender stereotypes, pushing reforms

    Communications strategist and women’s rights advocate, Ogochukwu Geraldine Eloike is the Corporate Communications Manager Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc. With over a decade of experience as communications consultant for local and multinational brands, the crusader for gender inclusivity is unyielding in her commitment to driving societal change, particularly by empowering women and pushing for radical education reforms to force Nigeria’s rebirth. She shares her journey and challenges with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN.

    Per pristine beauty and calm demeanor belie her inner restlessness and resolve to drive business and societal change. First, by deploying robust communications and perception management strategies, the Corporate Communications Manager for Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc., Ogochukwu Geraldine Eloike, has positioned the manufacturing giant to steer Nigeria’s green revolution using local materials to develop and produce unique consumer products for local markets.

    Under Ogochukwu’s charge as image maker, Flour Mills of Nigeria is inching closer to becoming Nigeria’s leading food business company with entities operating in agriculture, livestock feed and pasta manufacturing.

    Arguably, one of Africa’s biggest brands in the foods and agro-allied industry, the company, which boasts thousands of full and part-time employees, is on course to helping Nigeria reduce her dependence on imported raw materials while also creating value for businesses, consumers and the country at large.

    Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Ogochukwu has, in line with her burning desire to drive change, been juggling her game-changing image-making stewardship at Flour Mills of Nigeria with her sustained advocacy for gender equality. A feminist to the core, Ogochukwu, who is a mother of two daughters, has been in the vanguard of the campaign to challenge gender stereotypes that tend to confine women to playing second fiddle to their male counterpart. And her successes and footprints in this regard have been quite telling.

    A renowned author, Ogochukwu’s book, ‘Ichabod – Daughters Who Did Not Inherit Their Mother’s Silence,’ is one of her responses to what she considers as unhealthy patriarchal behaviours and traditions that tend to relegate women to the background and treat them like an option and not a choice. “As I stated in the book, the joy that welcomes a girl child in most cultures and families is not the same as the joy that welcomes a male child. With male children, there is this air of excitement that announces that a child has come while for girls, it’s like an alternative child is here,” she said.

    According to the behavioural change communicator, “This sexist behaviour is multiplied if the baby is a woman’s second, third, or fourth girl child without a male child. But, when we look at both existing and emerging data, we discover that it is the girls who were considered as options that are in fact, the key drivers and nourishes of their various homes. My book Ichabod addressed these issues in a practical manner and proffered viable solutions for women on how they can take back their power and seek their happiness regardless of public outcry and perception.”

    Published by Parresia Publishers Limited, Ichabod is a direct and honest analysis of our gender disparity situations, not just in Nigeria but across the globe using real-life data garnered online and offline to measure various drivers of abuses, dissatisfaction, and perceived/established differences amongst both genders. The insights allow for a direct call to action for women as emerging data depict a rapid increase in gender-based violence, especially by spouses or close family members.

    They also provide practicable roles the society and individuals can play in entrenching equity and ameliorating gender wariness which has been on the rise in recent times. “Any situation or context that does not acknowledge women as the choice and respect them for the sacrifices they make is a sexist environment and it is not conducive to feminine growth,” Ogochukwu charged, expressing hope that “this book will trigger some sort of paradigm shift in various societies so that as people, we would pay more attention to the needs of each other instead of trying to subjugate and exert authority over one another”.

    Young and effortlessly beautiful, with a disarming smile, Ogochukwu first studied Social Work and Community Development, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. That was between 2008 and 2012. She went a notch higher, earning two Master’s in Mass Communication/Media Studies and Public Relations and Advertising, both from University of Lagos. Today, she exemplifies the importance of grounding oneself in the broader aspects of communications, which is a crucial foundation for excelling in that field. And this is why she bestrides the corporate communications landscape like a colossus.

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    Reflecting on her decade-long journey as a communications consultant, Ogochukwu shares a pivotal moment in 2017, when she was tasked with producing and marketing a celebrity show. “This should be in early 2017. I was working for a private organisation and we had this show to produce and market for a celebrity. So, I was in charge of communications and business development. I literally had to pitch the project to over 300 organisations, from multinationals to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in search of funds,” she recalled.

    As expected, her efforts paid off. “We had sponsors and eventually produced the show, which became a success as targeted audiences were receptive,” Ogochukwu gleefully announced, pointing out, however, that it was not a stroll in the park. “This particular project tried my resilience and expertise as a person because I also had to take care of the home front while working over 19 hours to ensure that all Is were dotted and Ts crossed,” she said.

    Giving insight into some of the successful strategies used for clients to sell products, Ogochokwu cited the use of bespoke and relatable content to sell products like insurance, including direct and experiential engagements that allow consumers have a direct experience of brands.This strategy, according to her, worked with addressing unfounded criticisms of brands without necessarily knowing what it entails to deliver these brands to final consumers. She said communications for paradigm shift or behavioural change takes years because change of human character requires significant disruptions in their perceptions which take time to achieve.

    But how does Ogochokwu orchestrate campaigns that aim to drive behavioural change or instigate paradigm shifts, especially across diverse touch points? “Accurate needs assessment,” she responded, adding: “The saying that a problem identified is half solved is particularly true in this context. Use research tools to know what the problem is, then proceed to develop a strategic plan on solutions and how to disseminate these solutions. Accurately matching audience with messaging is one critical aspect of communications efforts, and for paradigm shift to take place, consistency of messaging and insights allows for assimilation and adoption.”

    Indeed, as communication specialist, Ogochukwu’s key strength areas are in orchestrating campaigns that drive behavioural change or instigate a certain level of paradigm shift to readjust human perspectives to existing and emerging changes across various touch points. Through her unique voice, she creates truth-based content for various platforms where she confronts various barriers to human mental and spiritual emancipation and absolute commitment to God’s will.

    When she is not creating strategies for her numerous corporate clients, Ogochukwu, an education reforms advocate, mostly engages with various education stakeholders to establish viable ways of reforming the learning system in Nigeria and across Africa. In her words, “Every society is a reflection of its education ideologies; thus, if you want to sustainably transform a nation, do so through education.” Her commitment to education reforms stems from witnessing the decay in the system and understanding the pivotal role education plays in shaping a nation.

    Ogochukwu, who identity as radical feminist and audacious Christian, is deeply rooted in her self-awareness. “I became self-aware and started owning that awareness. I have always believed and known that before God and the law, we are all equal, so gender inequality is man-made and should be disrupted. Also, I got to know God for myself; I encountered Him on different levels, so I know what He says in every situation and does not need any human to interpret His words for me. I know God and He lives in me,” she declared.

    She further said as an education reform advocate, “I grew up seeing the decay in the education system and how this decay affects the total outcome of our actions as citizens of this country, and as an avid reader, I know that historical antecedents depicted that power follows knowledge- from Egypt, to Greece, Rome, etc, education birthed powerful nations. Thus, Nigeria cannot attain an envisaged height if we all don’t push for radical education reforms just like Finland.”

    Though hugely successful, Ogochukwu’s journey to becoming a change agent by leveraging her blossoming career as a Communications strategist/consultant and her gender rights advocacy hasn’t been without challenges.

    From confronting systemic obstacles embedded in societal expectations to contending with guilt over traditional gender roles to facing subjugation and disrespect in her career, she had her fair share of hurdles.

    “I confronted the obstacle of guilt by people who believe that all a woman is worth is childbearing and any other purpose that men orchestrated for her. Then as you progress in your career and have people answerable to you, you would experience firsthand, the impediment of subjugation and disrespect from both male and female subordinates because the culture of misogyny raised them to believe that men should be leaders and women, followers,” she told The Nation.

    Ogochukwu said in this context, as a woman, “You would see yourself working twice as hard so you can get results and get your team to respect your leadership. In the end, I can boldly tell you that gender disparity is felt and seen almost everywhere, and any woman who attained success in life, she would always have her personal story of how she stared down patriarchy and stood her ground.”

    Having scaled these hurdles, Ogochukwu, by way of advice to women in the corporate world, emphasized the importance of owning one’s narrative and skills. She advocates for women to demand fair compensation and active participation in organizational programs that secure a seat at the decision-making table. “If you want power, you must go for it because no one will willingly give it to you,” she asserted

    She, however, dismissed the notion that feminism is a war against men. While advocating for the right of choice, she emphasized that feminism seeks self-determination for every individual, regardless of gender, noting that her perspective aligns with renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s call for everyone to embrace feminism, as it benefits society at large.

  • Ifeyinwa’s amazing wig to kitchen story

    Ifeyinwa’s amazing wig to kitchen story

    Renowned Chef Ifeyinwa Nzeka has made a name for herself in the culinary business. The Law graduate of University of Benin is the Director of Food Services, Eating Nigeria Foods Ltd., a food and kitchen management services company that uses fresh, high-quality ingredients and innovative techniques to create memorable dining experiences. She shares her inspiring story as well as her plans to float a farm project that would drive agri-tourism with DANIEL ESSIET.

    The drew strength from her innovative approach and commitment to culinary excellence to claim a spot in the highly competitive industry. And by also sticking to her philosophy which revolves around showcasing the rich and diverse flavors of Nigerian cuisines while preserving their traditional essence, seasoned Chef/Director of Food Services, Eating Nigeria Foods Ltd., a company that offers food and kitchen management services, Ifeyinwa Nzeka, has carved a niche for herself in the culinary world.

    Barely nine years after she started the business in 2015, Ifeyinwa, a Law graduate of University of Benin, who has never hidden her passion for promoting local and international cuisines, has managed to ride on the back of her creativity by using fresh, high-quality ingredients to create memorable dining experiences and also give other international fast-food giants a run for their culinary techniques. Today, Eating Nigeria Foods Ltd. has not only brought unprecedented variety and convenience to the Nigerian food delivery space but also competes head-on with industry giants.

    Ifeyinwa’s flourishing food business started back in 2006 when, after years of working in the food service and hospitality industry, “Where I identified a need which my business could fill.” She told The Nation that her ability to shape the entire food delivery value chain, from sourcing the finest ingredients to crafting unique culinary methods, ignited her entrepreneurial drive and pushed her to pursue the path wholeheartedly. “Although, I am a Law graduate, I walked straight into culinary school to be Cordon Bleu trained right after my bar exams, pursuing my passion for the culinary profession,” she said.

    Ifeyinwa, however, said her entrepreneurial journey wasn’t as straightforward as it appears.  Her words: “I had to appeal when my visa to travel was denied because the choice to study a Cordon Bleu diploma at the time didn’t show a progression in my education….”  I penned down a passionate appeal on my reasons which included how passionate I had been about cooking and dishing out delicious meals to friends and family from a young age and how I had my parents’ support and I won the appeal,”

    The budding food entrepreneur said at the time, a number of her colleagues were traveling for their Master’s degree but there she was traveling for a culinary education after studying law with her parents having to pay even more money than the cost of a Master’s degree. She particularly credited her dad’s entrepreneurship with providing the inspiration for her business. “My dad was an entrepreneur so, I think watching him start a food processing business from scratch was an initial catalyst. My mum worked full time but at every point in time, I watched her have a side gig as an entrepreneur, from having a drinks distributorship store to an arcade game shop to a salon to a boutique to a poultry farm at retirement,” she said.

    Flowing from this narrative, Ifeyinwa said she believes she caught her entrepreneurial bug from her parents. “Then, I remember helping out in my dad’s factory when on holiday from secondary school as well as frying puff puff and buns to sell to his workers. When I was waiting to go to Law School after my law degree from the University of Benin, I set up a small bakery where I baked bread. I made the bread loaves all night myself and then hired my first employee to help with the sales during the day.

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    “At some point, I was selling packaged homemade cookies to staff at the head office of a telecoms company. So, I had dabbled into food entrepreneurship off and on from my teenage years. When I returned from culinary school, I began working in the food service and hospitality industry for several years before starting a food business,” she recalled, noting that she currently still juggles working with a renowned food service business as director of operations, which she enjoys while running her own food business on a 50/50 share of her available work time each week.

    Ifeyinwa said the name of the game in the burgeoning food business is constant innovation. “What make the market so competitive are not just the international chains and investment money pouring in, but also constant innovation in trends and fads on the part of existing businesses. She said within the food industry, many of the big players are coming in, while she and other older players are taking the business seriously by deploying new strategies to give them extra leverage.

    The other leg of her constant innovation and strategy, according Ifeyinwa, is the unique way she manages the supply chain of low-shelf life products. Her words: “In our business, low-shelf life products are mostly perishable items like vegetables and dairy. So, we have them supplied or purchased more frequently in smaller batches than other products to avoid wastages. Meals we make are made fresh and for baked items, we engineer the menu such that the baked goods we offer that cannot be made when a customer orders due to time to execute, freeze well and taste fresh when defrosted.”

    But how does this Lawyer-turned food entrepreneur balance business profitability with her motto of giving ‘highest quality at the lowest price’? “Well, I am not sure about the ‘lowest price’ factor as that is arguable, but we aim to offer the highest quality at a low price because we do not believe that people need to break the bank to be able to afford quality meals and food products. To be profitable, we are very big on controls.  We strongly believe in the quote that says “If it cannot be measured, it cannot be managed,” she told The Nation.

    She said she measures a lot of things in other to manage them better in her food business, which keeps costs in check and translates to being able to offer more competitive prices for quality meals and food products to clients and customers. She also added that her

    distribution platform is efficient but is also a work in progress. “We work with reliable suppliers and partners who help make it relatively efficient. However, doing business in our clime isn’t without its challenges but we keep pushing and keep it moving,” she indicated.

    Indeed, it hasn’t been a stroll in the park for Ifeyinwa; she has had to overcome a number of challenges in her climb to the top, one of which was cash-flow problem. “I think that one of the biggest hurdles I have had to overcome in my business was when we went to ground zero in terms of cash flow and revenue for several months. Our business was grounded and after borrowing to keep a few staff and keep the business operational, I eventually had to let all the staff go. I had walked away from the major kitchen management business we had because of unfavorable business conditions,” she revealed.

    She said business was good in the first year, but when her clients realized how much money they had to pay out to her company for its services, “they began to stifle us to have our staff as their employees while paying us a stipend, stiffening the contract terms.’’ “I declined and walked away. It was a trying time for our business and I just gave myself some time. You know, sometimes, all you can do is let go and let God take control, and when I did that, other doors began opening with time,” she said.

    The current economic situation in the country has also tasted Ifeyinwa’s resilience as an entrepreneur. “With the current economic situation, which has led to high food inflation and increased cost of raw materials, ingredients and operational costs, it hasn’t been easy and I want to take a moment to send well wishes to all fellow food business owners. It has been a difficult time but we will win,’’ she said

    To get round some of the challenges she faced, especially as they relate to operating losses that take the largest toll on business revenue, Ifeyinwa said she incorporated smart and intelligent management strategies to minimize cost of operations. “We prioritize cost controls. We work to keep our costs low to be able to shoulder unforeseen costs that could otherwise hurt revenue and margins,” she divulged, pointing out that although, her company is now well-established, she is determined to continually innovate in order to maintain market share.

    According to her, one of the strategies she has adopted is to deliver exceptional dining experiences by building an organisation where people are inspired to better their lives. She said she is always looking to add a variety of innovative flavors and elevating classic comfort foods to her menu and she is delighted to see the positive response from customers. The team, she said, explores classic authentic flavors to stay ahead of flavor trends, and listens to guests’ feedback as a source of insight for new menu ideas.

    For Ifeyinwa, it’s all about putting guests first in terms of the food the company serves, the overall dining experience and also listening to their evolving needs and wants. One of her strong points is exploring new opportunities and building connections to understand the opportunities. Over the past five years, her team has also focused on adapting to the challenges and opportunities brought about by advancements in technology.

    Beyond embracing opportunities offered by technology, the budding food entrepreneur has also identified a huge opportunity in the agribusiness space. “We need to grow and produce more food within the country. We need to do more in the agricultural sector as it relates to food for consumption by the populace,” she said, adding, ‘‘we also need to process more of the food that we grow and produce to minimise our food import dependence. Our business is evolving to be able to grow a part of what we use for our meals and food products in order to benefit stakeholders and customers.”

    According to Ifeyinwa, the food industry has transformed over the years in keeping with the pace of economic growth. She said as the middle class expands and parents prioritize healthy eating habits, there is a huge demand for high-quality, innovative, and convenient food products. “I think the future of food, specifically in Nigeria will be more organised and productive with more people as well as food service businesses being able to source the bulk of their food requirements with ease from within the country,’’ she projected.

    Apparently in readiness for this envisaged rosy future for the food industry, Ifeyinwa said “We are currently working on a vegetable and goat dairy farm project that would also be an agri-tourism space. That’s our major focus for this year, building it out and getting it up and running.”

    Hugely successful and roaring to further expand the frontiers of her flourishing enterprise, Ifeyinwa’s unmistaken humility, calm disposition and tenacity are a study in on how other women can navigate the challenges in the Nigerians entrepreneurial space. For instance, responding to a question on how she defines success, she said, in a remarkably profound manner: “I measure success based on a state of mind rather than in monetary terms. For me, success is a life filled with happiness and peace of mind.  While failure hurts particularly when it is fresh, when I look back, I realize that all of the failures in the past have made me better, taught me, prepared and made me stronger and wiser. With this, I am better able to manage failure by looking back at past failures and knowing it will pass and I will learn and will be all the better for it.”

  • With Olokpo App, Onose-Eromosele hauls people into prosperity

    With Olokpo App, Onose-Eromosele hauls people into prosperity

    Budding entrepreneur Jennifer Onose-Eromosele is determined to pull people out of hardship and propel them into prosperity through cooking. Accordingly, with her innovative food platform called Olokpo App, caterers can sign-up for millions of people to reach and contract them for their culinary services, while the general public can also download the App to locate caterers nearest to them. She shares her plans to take the App, which was recently launched in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, to four other African countries with CHINYERE OKOROAFOR

    She came prepared to change the dynamics in the culinary industry. And with Olokpo App, an innovative food platform or application that can be downloaded online, fast-rising entrepreneur Jennifer Onose-Eromosele is pushing immense possibilities to the hands of caterers and millions of people who require their services.

    Basically, with the App, which has already been launched in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, caterers can sign-up for millions of people to reach and contract them for their culinary services, while the general public can also download the App to locate caterers nearest to them. This game-changing innovation was motivated by the desire to pull people out of hardship and propel them into prosperity through cooking.

    Onose-Eromosele said her primary motivation was the “Need to help others make a living and eliminate poverty.” According to her, there are so many people who have cooking skills and there are many others who require these cooks on a daily basis.

    “So, I thought it would be a win-win if we have this platform where those with special abilities in cooking exceptional meals can connect and be contracted by those who require their expertise, either for modest home meals or for large events,” she explained

    Onose-Eromosele, who earned a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, from Madonna University, and a Master’s degree in Marketing Communications, from Pan-Atlantic University, said the Olokpo App is also for chefs, caterers, restaurants and hotels that do outdoor catering, to register and be located by the general public, who require their services.

    An expert in strategic marketing, sales, business development and operations management, Onose-Eromosele boasts a career that spans almost 14 years of marketing and sales, starting from Ovation International magazine in 2007, to General Appliances West Africa in 2010, Afromedia Plc, then Megascreen Limited, as General Manager in 2014, and Wetherheads Group in 2015.

    These were superb platforms to display her exceptional marketing, sales and negotiation skills, which led the Executive Management in those organisations to develop and execute projects and programmes identified as key revenue drivers. She has always received recognition for her outstanding performance.

    Onose-Eromosele is also an Associate Member, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, (AMNIMN), where she has been involved with marketing for about 14 years “This has taken me across various organisations where I see a lot of problems across board, which can be solved digitally.

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    “Presently, my company is also into sales of billboard advertising spaces across several states in the country. We service premium brands like MTN, Power Oil, banks and manufacturing companies,” she said.

    The dynamic entrepreneur has now brought her expertise in these areas to bear on her tech-driven Olokpo App, a ground-breaking cuisine service App that seamlessly connects customers with food vendors and caterers within their locations across Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

    The App, which parades 100 per cent local content, is built to address the challenges people face in getting catering services when they are in need of it.

    Coined from a home-grown name in Nigeria, Olokpo, it connotes ‘People that cook good food.’ It was deliberately designed to transform catering service within the neighbourhood. The App offers pioneering features such as straightforward connectivity, trust, quality food, as well as seamless payment and booking methods.

    With these unique features, Onose-Eromosele hinted at the possibilities that Olokpo App will soon incorporate Cake/Bread Bakers and other catering services, including small chops and producers of local beverages like Sobo, Yogurt, etcetera, into the App.

    “I was at an event recently where confectioners converged and I was bombarded by various requests that they would also like to be included in the App. According to them, ‘everybody is looking for customers.’ So, I said, why not? We will surely explore this. After all they are all edibles and are being ‘cooked’ as food, one way or the other.” Onose-Eromosele told The Nation.

    She expressed confidence that the App has all it takes to satisfy her teeming and prospective customers, as everything they are looking for is featured in the Olokpo App. “People will no longer be struggling for who will refer a caterer to them because they can have access to many caterers on the App for their private parties, corporate parties and even home supply of meals.

    “Neither will those with cooking skills be sitting at home jobless, because they can now monitise their cooking skills through the Olokpo App,” Onose-Eromosele explained further.

    Apparently drawing strength from the many possibilities available for users of the App, Onose-Eromosele said she is open to partnerships with relevant agencies – both public and interested private sector operators that can enable her to impact more people with the Olokpo App.

    The Application promoter said: “I know the Federal Government is doing a lot to reduce poverty among Nigerians. I am also aware that even the Office of the First Lady is toeing the line of empowering women as well.

    “So, why not? Of course, such collaboration can only pull more people into the prosperity net and that is exactly what we need in the country at this point, which is also my own inspiration for initiating the Olokpo App.”

    But how receptive have people been towards the app? Onose-Eromole said customers have been very enthusiastic about it. According to her, everyone in the culinary industry is very excited. “Everyone wants customers, especially those with cooking skills but who do not know how to secure customers for their expertise,” she said.

    Onose-Eromosele is famous for solving problems, resolving difficult situations, with the client as the ultimate beneficiary. And with Olokpo app, she has successfully shifted the narrative.

    “It is a win-win for caterers and their clients. The Olokpo App is loaded with solutions that will make talented caterers showcase their skills and earn a living doing what they love. The app is also a thriving marketplace for caterers to connect with clients and earn a fair wage for their culinary expertise,” she emphasized.

    The budding entrepreneur added that secure payment methods are integrated into the App, ensuring that transactions are smooth and reliable.

    “Booking a caterer has never been so straightforward, making your culinary journey as delightful as the food itself. A caterer may be next door when you are running around looking for one. The Olokpo App ends that,” she said.

    Beyond her motivation to latch on the Olokpo App to pull people out of hardship and propel them into prosperity through cooking, Onose-Eromosele also said Olokpo is a personal solution to a situation she often faced.

    “I have had events and finding a caterer was a challenge. I have people asking me every time where they can find reliable caterers. The search for a solution led me to Olokpo,” she revealed.

    Although, the Olokpo App has debuted, the campaign to onboard caterers on the platform is still ongoing. While addressing the issue of verification of professional and trustworthy caterers who will operate on the Olokpo platform, Onose-Eromosele hinted that caterers have to undergo several stages of verification, which include facial recognition, email address, full names, phone number that is linked to BVN as well as location, among others.

    According to the App’s creator, verification is vital for all caterers on the platform because trusted people who will deliver on promise are needed on the platform.

    In the case of breach of contract, however, she revealed that a dispute resolution platform has been created and same is being managed by their legal team to address any dispute that may arise from payment and delivery.

    “If any caterer is found to be dishonest, such caterer will be delisted from the platform,” she maintained, adding that at moment, her plan is to launch the App in four other African countries very soon.

    Asked if her organisation is a non-governmental organisation or a poverty alleviation programme, considering her decision not to deduct commission or charge the users, Onose-Eromosele clarified: “Well, I told you at the beginning that my primary motivation was to serve as a bridge between those with cooking skills and those who require their expertise.

    “However, this is still a business, so we allow the Olokpo caterers to pay a token to register to feature on the App. And you are correct; we do not collect any commission from their revenue. So, you’re right, Olokpo is a strategic way of empowering our women to make money in a dignified manner.”

    Despite her very busy schedule, Onose-Eromosele still manages her home front, as she’s happily married with children. Asked how she combines career with marriage, she said it’s determination. “Easy would not be the word to use. I think it’s more of determination, work and home balance,” she told The Nation.

    The Olokpo App creator cum promoter has a piece of advice to people who would want to toe her enviable but very taxing career path: “Just start that dream business. Don’t wait till everything is perfect.”

  • From architecture to agribusiness, Oluwaseun’s daring exploits

    From architecture to agribusiness, Oluwaseun’s daring exploits

    Oluwaseun Obadan is the founder/chief executive, Arso Farms, an agro-allied company focused on improving health and wellness through the nutritional potency of indigenous greens or veggie products. The architect-turned agri-preneur launched a successful agribusiness after drawing inspiration from her personal health challenge which gave an insight into the incredible healing power of African greens. She shares her intriguing entrepreneurial story and her future plans with DANIEL ESSIET.

    It was a career switch inspired by her personal health challenge. And it all started when Oluwaseun Obadan, a 2018 Master of Science (MSc) degree in architecture holder, from Caleb University, Lagos, grappled with a severe illness which, according to her, was diagnosed as anaemia. It was during the period of the health challenge, when the medical community was trying to decipher the cause of her pain that her mother decided to take matters into her own hands.

     Pronto, Oluwaseun’s caring mother started juicing greens for her and, remarkably, the intervention facilitated her recovery. “I began to recover. It was through this experience that I discovered the incredible healing power of greens, and I became determined to celebrate and create awareness about the potency of our African greens. We set out to make them more accessible and convenient to everyone, using technology for sales, payment, and logistics,” she narrated.

    That was how Oluwaseun’s transition from architecture to agribusiness came to be. And Arso Farms, an agro-allied company, which she founded and runs as Chief Executive, has been the vehicle she has been using to propagate her gospel of improving the health and wellness of individuals by leveraging the nutritional potency of indigenous greens or veggie products.

    Oluwaseun, who earned a First Class in Architecture in Sept 2016, has, within a remarkably short time, blossomed into a successful agri-preneur, having grown Arso Farms, a small outfit, into a hub of agri-tech innovation.

    “With Arso Farms, it’s a direct farm-to-doorstep experience,” Oluwaseun told The Nation, re-emphasizing that “We set out to make indigenous greens more accessible and convenient to everyone, using technology for sales, payment, and logistics. As she reiterated, “Arso Farms was born out of a personal pain point. The desire to celebrate and create awareness and make a positive impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities propelled me into the agriculture sector.”

     However, Oluwaseun’s transition from architecture to agribusiness was not a walk in the park. It came with initial challenges, notably knowledge gaps, for instance. But the budding agri-preneur refused to be discouraged. “To overcome this, I actively collaborated with colleagues in agriculture, engaged in continuous learning through programs like the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs by the US Consulate, sought mentorship, and learned from mistakes along the way,” she told The Nation.

     Access to finance was also a significant obstacle. Despite initiating the business with personal savings, expanding an agribusiness requires substantial funding. Again, Oluwaseun was determined to scale the hurdle. This she did by applying for grants and participating in incubators, such as the Orange Corners programme by the Consulate of The Netherlands.

    “These experiences have been instrumental in shaping and sustaining the growth of my venture,” she admitted.

     Evidences of Arso Farms’ impressive growth trajectory abound. For instance, Oluwaseun said the company, which initially began with a team of one, currently has five dedicated and highly motivated workers. Arso Farms has also transformed from a traditional production company into a dynamic digital agri-tech business operating across production, processing, logistics, and distribution within the vegetable value chain.

    Oluwaseun has also successfully diversified the company’s customer base from local farmer’s markets to include premium retail stores, pop-up farmer’s markets, and an online audience, enhancing product accessibility and reducing dependency on intermediaries.

     Arso Farms’ valuation has also increased from N1 million to an N50 million, this year, even as Oluwaseun has secured a place in the Orange Corners accelerator programme, gaining access to grants and partial loans totalling over 45,000 euros. And for these wins, she said an entrepreneur needed to have passion, experience, determination, network and action to be successful.

    Apparently drawing strength from what she has achieved so far, Oluwaseun proudly said agriculture is the way to go, noting that farming has put food on her table. Her words: “Beyond personal sustenance, our farming initiatives have significantly increased the income of our female partner farmers, empowering them to support their children through university. I am proud of the milestones we’ve achieved.”

    The Architect-tuned agri-preneur, however, said the spirit of an entrepreneur always seeks growth and improvement. “So, there’s always more to aspire to. Among our notable accomplishments, creating sustainable income opportunities for local female farmers and delivering fresh, nutritious produce to our community ranks high,” she said, pointing out that the journey of entrepreneurship has taught her the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the power of collaboration.

    “My key success factors include a commitment to quality, sustainable practices, fostering community relationships, and embracing innovation in every aspect of our business, Oluwaseun said, adding that she loves to spend most of her free time in promoting social entrepreneurship, women empowerment and volunteerism work; she had spoken about venture capital, diversity and youth empowerment in various conferences around the country.

    Read Also: Fed Govt to empower 2,000 women in Agribusiness

     Oluwaseun, who personifies the saying that “every challenge is an opportunity in disguise,” stated that “Combining my architectural expertise with my passion for agriculture, I address the interconnected challenges of youth unemployment, gender equity, food security, and health and wellness. Arso Farms creates sustainable employment opportunities that empower women in agriculture and ensure access to nutritious food.”

    According to her, the company prioritized partnerships with female farmers, providing them with training, resources, and support to enhance their skills and productivity. Her words: “By fostering an inclusive and empowering environment for women in agriculture, we aim to address gender disparities and serve as a catalyst for their success.

    “I actively engage in initiatives and programs that promote women’s entrepreneurship and leadership, including the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Mckinsey Forward programme for African female leaders in business.” 

    Oluwaseun said through sharing her entrepreneurial journey, she aspires to inspire and empower other women to pursue their passions and excel in agriculture. “At Arso Farms, we actively address youth unemployment by providing meaningful employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.

    “We believe in empowering the youth through comprehensive training and involvement in various farm operations, from cultivation to packaging and delivery,” she declared, noting that by equipping them with skills and fostering their entrepreneurial spirit, the company contributes to their economic growth and development, creating a generation of skilled farmers and reducing youth unemployment.

    Oluwaseun recalled that the COVID 19 pandemic period, which left families with sad tales, was a positive one for her and her company.

    “The onset of COVID-19 presented a unique opportunity for us to create an impact during those trying times, we extended our services to over 100 families, providing them with fresh, nutritious greens right at their doorstep. Our mission is not just to sell vegetables; it’s about promoting health and convenience for our customers,” she said

    The budding agri-preneur emphasized that agriculture is Nigeria’s new oil.

    Her words: “As Nigerian youth, we must recognize that agriculture is the new oil, with innovation as the vehicle to success. My colleagues at Orange Corners are working on various aspects of the agricultural value chain, from commodity trading, to coconut byproducts, fortified beans, and nutritious cereals that improve child nutrition.

    “They are also making strides in agricultural services, particularly in food safety consulting. The Nigerian market is ripe and ready, offering countless opportunities.”

    Encouraged by what she considers a promising future for agriculture and various operators across its value chain, Oluwaseun is looking into Arso farms’ future with so much optimism. “Our goal at Arso farms is to corner a significant market share for our ready-to-use veggie packs in one year, earn a minimum revenue of N2 million monthly specifically on our ready-to-use veggie brand,” she declared.

    According to her, this is targeted at the company’s vision of a health and wellness agro Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) that improves the health and wellbeing of individuals especially Africans. She said achieving this one-year goal will give the company a competitive advantage and a solid foundation for other products, such as its Green Life Mix Veggie powders.

    “This will position us as the leading agro wellness brand that improves the health and well-being of individuals in Lagos State. We can then leverage this position to expand to other economically viable states, such as Abuja and Port Harcourt.

    “Our future plans involve further expanding our product line, reaching more African countries with our export products, and continuing our commitment to empowering female farmers. We want to have our products, especially those made from local Nigerian produce, in homes all over the world. Sustainability and positive social impact remain at the forefront,” Oluwaseun told The Nation.

    Young, hardworking and beautiful, Oluwaseun, who boasts experience in marketing, business development, product development, business operations, and strategy, however, shared a few success nuggets for aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to develop and grow successful businesses. She said: “Collaborations and partnerships are key to moving forward swiftly. The agricultural value chain is vast, with myriad opportunities waiting to be explored. Take that first step, and take it boldly.

     “Nothing is entirely new under the sun, but everything can be improved upon, and that’s where innovation comes in. My company, Arso Farms, was recently inducted into the Orange Corners network, a hub for young Nigerian innovators for our focus on solving the pervasive issue of post-harvest loss through processing vegetables.

    “This was an exciting milestone for us after years of bootstrapping. But what’s even more thrilling is witnessing how young Nigerians with similar ambitions are channeling innovation to improve existing solutions.”

  • From architecture to agribusiness, Oluwaseun’s daring exploits

    From architecture to agribusiness, Oluwaseun’s daring exploits

    Oluwaseun Obadan is the founder/chief executive, Arso Farms, an agro-allied company focused on improving health and wellness through the nutritional potency of indigenous greens or veggie products. The architect-turned agri-preneur launched a successful agribusiness after drawing inspiration from her personal health challenge which gave an insight into the incredible healing power of African greens. She shares her intriguing entrepreneurial story and her future plans with DANIEL ESSIET

    It was a career switch inspired by her personal health challenge. And it all started when Oluwaseun Obadan, a 2018 Master of Science (MSc) degree in architecture holder, from Caleb University, Lagos, grappled with a severe illness which, according to her, was diagnosed as anaemia. It was during the period of the health challenge, when the medical community was trying to decipher the cause of her pain that her mother decided to take matters into her own hands.

     Pronto, Oluwaseun’s caring mother started juicing greens for her and, remarkably, the intervention facilitated her recovery. “I began to recover. It was through this experience that I discovered the incredible healing power of greens, and I became determined to celebrate and create awareness about the potency of our African greens. We set out to make them more accessible and convenient to everyone, using technology for sales, payment, and logistics,” she narrated.

    That was how Oluwaseun’s transition from architecture to agribusiness came to be. And Arso Farms, an agro-allied company, which she founded and runs as Chief Executive, has been the vehicle she has been using to propagate her gospel of improving the health and wellness of individuals by leveraging the nutritional potency of indigenous greens or veggie products.

    Oluwaseun, who earned a First Class in Architecture in Sept 2016, has, within a remarkably short time, blossomed into a successful agri-preneur, having grown Arso Farms, a small outfit, into a hub of agri-tech innovation.

    “With Arso Farms, it’s a direct farm-to-doorstep experience,” Oluwaseun told The Nation, re-emphasizing that “We set out to make indigenous greens more accessible and convenient to everyone, using technology for sales, payment, and logistics. As she reiterated, “Arso Farms was born out of a personal pain point. The desire to celebrate and create awareness and make a positive impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities propelled me into the agriculture sector.”

     However, Oluwaseun’s transition from architecture to agribusiness was not a walk in the park. It came with initial challenges, notably knowledge gaps, for instance. But the budding agri-preneur refused to be discouraged. “To overcome this, I actively collaborated with colleagues in agriculture, engaged in continuous learning through programs like the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs by the US Consulate, sought mentorship, and learned from mistakes along the way,” she told The Nation.

     Access to finance was also a significant obstacle. Despite initiating the business with personal savings, expanding an agribusiness requires substantial funding. Again, Oluwaseun was determined to scale the hurdle. This she did by applying for grants and participating in incubators, such as the Orange Corners programme by the Consulate of The Netherlands.

    “These experiences have been instrumental in shaping and sustaining the growth of my venture,” she admitted.

     Evidences of Arso Farms’ impressive growth trajectory abound. For instance, Oluwaseun said the company, which initially began with a team of one, currently has five dedicated and highly motivated workers. Arso Farms has also transformed from a traditional production company into a dynamic digital agri-tech business operating across production, processing, logistics, and distribution within the vegetable value chain.

    Oluwaseun has also successfully diversified the company’s customer base from local farmer’s markets to include premium retail stores, pop-up farmer’s markets, and an online audience, enhancing product accessibility and reducing dependency on intermediaries.

     Arso Farms’ valuation has also increased from N1 million to an N50 million, this year, even as Oluwaseun has secured a place in the Orange Corners accelerator programme, gaining access to grants and partial loans totalling over 45,000 euros. And for these wins, she said an entrepreneur needed to have passion, experience, determination, network and action to be successful.

    Apparently drawing strength from what she has achieved so far, Oluwaseun proudly said agriculture is the way to go, noting that farming has put food on her table. Her words: “Beyond personal sustenance, our farming initiatives have significantly increased the income of our female partner farmers, empowering them to support their children through university. I am proud of the milestones we’ve achieved.”

    Read Also: FCMB gets Agribusiness Investment Award

    The Architect-tuned agri-preneur, however, said the spirit of an entrepreneur always seeks growth and improvement. “So, there’s always more to aspire to. Among our notable accomplishments, creating sustainable income opportunities for local female farmers and delivering fresh, nutritious produce to our community ranks high,” she said, pointing out that the journey of entrepreneurship has taught her the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the power of collaboration.

    “My key success factors include a commitment to quality, sustainable practices, fostering community relationships, and embracing innovation in every aspect of our business, Oluwaseun said, adding that she loves to spend most of her free time in promoting social entrepreneurship, women empowerment and volunteerism work; she had spoken about venture capital, diversity and youth empowerment in various conferences around the country.

     Oluwaseun, who personifies the saying that “every challenge is an opportunity in disguise,” stated that “Combining my architectural expertise with my passion for agriculture, I address the interconnected challenges of youth unemployment, gender equity, food security, and health and wellness. Arso Farms creates sustainable employment opportunities that empower women in agriculture and ensure access to nutritious food.”

    According to her, the company prioritized partnerships with female farmers, providing them with training, resources, and support to enhance their skills and productivity. Her words: “By fostering an inclusive and empowering environment for women in agriculture, we aim to address gender disparities and serve as a catalyst for their success.

    “I actively engage in initiatives and programs that promote women’s entrepreneurship and leadership, including the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Mckinsey Forward programme for African female leaders in business.” 

    Oluwaseun said through sharing her entrepreneurial journey, she aspires to inspire and empower other women to pursue their passions and excel in agriculture. “At Arso Farms, we actively address youth unemployment by providing meaningful employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.

    “We believe in empowering the youth through comprehensive training and involvement in various farm operations, from cultivation to packaging and delivery,” she declared, noting that by equipping them with skills and fostering their entrepreneurial spirit, the company contributes to their economic growth and development, creating a generation of skilled farmers and reducing youth unemployment.

    Oluwaseun recalled that the COVID 19 pandemic period, which left families with sad tales, was a positive one for her and her company.

    “The onset of COVID-19 presented a unique opportunity for us to create an impact during those trying times, we extended our services to over 100 families, providing them with fresh, nutritious greens right at their doorstep. Our mission is not just to sell vegetables; it’s about promoting health and convenience for our customers,” she said

    The budding agri-preneur emphasized that agriculture is Nigeria’s new oil.

    Her words: “As Nigerian youth, we must recognize that agriculture is the new oil, with innovation as the vehicle to success. My colleagues at Orange Corners are working on various aspects of the agricultural value chain, from commodity trading, to coconut byproducts, fortified beans, and nutritious cereals that improve child nutrition.

    “They are also making strides in agricultural services, particularly in food safety consulting. The Nigerian market is ripe and ready, offering countless opportunities.”

    Encouraged by what she considers a promising future for agriculture and various operators across its value chain, Oluwaseun is looking into Arso farms’ future with so much optimism. “Our goal at Arso farms is to corner a significant market share for our ready-to-use veggie packs in one year, earn a minimum revenue of N2 million monthly specifically on our ready-to-use veggie brand,” she declared.

    According to her, this is targeted at the company’s vision of a health and wellness agro Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) that improves the health and wellbeing of individuals especially Africans. She said achieving this one-year goal will give the company a competitive advantage and a solid foundation for other products, such as its Green Life Mix Veggie powders.

    “This will position us as the leading agro wellness brand that improves the health and well-being of individuals in Lagos State. We can then leverage this position to expand to other economically viable states, such as Abuja and Port Harcourt.

    “Our future plans involve further expanding our product line, reaching more African countries with our export products, and continuing our commitment to empowering female farmers. We want to have our products, especially those made from local Nigerian produce, in homes all over the world. Sustainability and positive social impact remain at the forefront,” Oluwaseun told The Nation.

    Young, hardworking and beautiful, Oluwaseun, who boasts experience in marketing, business development, product development, business operations, and strategy, however, shared a few success nuggets for aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to develop and grow successful businesses. She said: “Collaborations and partnerships are key to moving forward swiftly. The agricultural value chain is vast, with myriad opportunities waiting to be explored. Take that first step, and take it boldly.

     “Nothing is entirely new under the sun, but everything can be improved upon, and that’s where innovation comes in. My company, Arso Farms, was recently inducted into the Orange Corners network, a hub for young Nigerian innovators for our focus on solving the pervasive issue of post-harvest loss through processing vegetables.

    “This was an exciting milestone for us after years of bootstrapping. But what’s even more thrilling is witnessing how young Nigerians with similar ambitions are channeling innovation to improve existing solutions.”

  • ‘Women entrepreneurs need to work twice as hard’

    ‘Women entrepreneurs need to work twice as hard’

    Elizabeth Idigbe is the Executive Secretary of PUNUKA Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation focused on children with developmental needs. She is also the Managing Partner of PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors. The Law graduate of the University of Benin has leveraged her 36 years of work experience covering both corporate and private practice to bring immense value to the needy in society and to law and jurisprudence. She shares her story with Deputy News Editor JOSEPH JIBUEZE and Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA.

    The avalanche of legacy projects commissioned under her watch bears eloquent testimony to the unrelenting pursuit of her passion for helping the needy in the society through PUNUKA Foundation, which Elizabeth Idigbe co-founded with her husband, Dr Anthony Idigbe (SAN).

    they also speak to her resolve to bring immense value to law and jurisprudence both locally and internationally, through the law firm of PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors, where she is also Managing Partner.

    First, PUNUKA Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, which has never hidden its special focus on children with developmental needs such as autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related conditions, commissioned its purpose-built Childcare Centre located at the Sangotedo area of Lagos.

    That was on July 30, 2023, with the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, and Her Excellency, Princess Adejoke Adefulire, on hand to bless and commission the Centre.

    An obviously elated and fulfilled Elizabeth told The Nation that the Centre was built to cater for children with developmental needs. She said it will provide boarding support (Monday to Friday) with therapists (behavioural, speech and occupational), in-house nurses and Dominican Rev. Fr. of course for spiritual support.

    “We are currently registering and going through the onboarding process for interested families and hope to commence operation of the Centre on or before the end of November 2023,” Elizabeth, who is a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and also the Executive Secretary of the Foundation, said.

    The Foundation also commissioned two projects in Asaba, Delta State, on August 12, 2023. The first was a Museum built in honour of the legal icon, the late Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe, who was the founder of the law firm, PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors.

    The second project was a Youth Centre and Library to provide the much-needed space and resources for research and knowledge sharing for people resident in Asaba and its environs. The Foundation also sponsored an e-library at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) office in Asaba.

    According to Elizabeth, this year marked the 100th posthumous birthday anniversary of Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe. She said the Foundation leveraged this landmark celebration to execute a number of programmes geared towards improving the well-being and potential of people with developmental needs.

    “We organised charity visits to homes in Lagos, Abuja and Asaba on the 14th and 15th of February 2023. It was a huge success and we are glad we were able to put smiles on the faces of those amazing children,” she told The Nation.

    She said since its inception, the Foundation has been involved in various activities that aligned with its vision, including sponsorship of awareness/sensitisation programmes for parents with special needs children and caregivers, and sponsorship of intervention programmes such as behavioural, occupational and speech therapies.

    Others are yearly subvention to some of the homes, provision of needed facilities, food items, learning aids, reconstruction of classrooms, construction of toilets and ramps to make these accessible to challenged persons, amongst so many other activities.

    But how does the Foundation choose its target beneficiaries? Elizabeth said: “We run an all-inclusive programme and interested parents are welcome to apply and go through the due diligence/onboarding process. For the Childcare Centre, we are starting with the age range of a minimum of five years and a maximum of 17 years.”

    As Elizabeth emphasized: “It is always an amazing discovery to know that these children are indeed gifted with amazing talents which are revealed through the right interventions.

    Read Also: I’ve never taken alcohol, smoke cigarettes- Akpabio

    “The Childcare Centre is a platform to achieve this impact, but aside from the Childcare Centre, we will continue to provide training for parents, teachers and caregivers.”

    Interestingly, Elizabeth drew her motivation to offer succour to the needy in society particularly special needs children from her own personal experience.

    Her story: “I have a son with special needs and I went through a lot of challenges trying to obtain needed support for him. It was a transforming experience for me and my husband.

    “That whole experience birthed the passion to pursue a course that will ensure parents with special needs children get the needed support and awareness and also provide the needed intervention to our amazing children to help them through life and maximize their potential. That was what led to the establishment of the PUNUKA Foundation.”

    The mission of the PUNUKA Foundation and Child Care Center is to provide comprehensive and compassionate care for children with disabilities. With the goal of empowering these children to reach their fullest potential, and promoting their overall development, well-being, and inclusion in society, the Foundation has continued to charge on.

    Elizabeth underscored the Foundation’s commitment, saying that in the coming months and years, “We will continue to positively impact more and more children and cause families that were previously emotionally drained and sometimes helpless to find hope, knowing that their children will fulfil their destinies and maximise their potentials in life.”

    A commitment so profound, Elizabeth has also brought same to bear on the legal profession, her first ‘love,’ where, for instance, she oversaw the commissioning of the Justice Idigbe Law Faculty Building at the Veritas University, Abuja. The faculty, which was built with the support of the Idigbe family, was inaugurated on July 3.

    The project was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. “We also had the PUNUKA Annual Lecture in Abuja, chaired by Chief Awomolo, SAN, with special guest speakers that included His Excellency Babatunde Fashola, Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, Professor Abiola Sanni (SAN) and Professor Obiora Okafor.”

    A 1986 Law graduate of the University of Benin, Elizabeth was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. She also obtained a Masters in Law (LLM) from the University of Lagos, in 1989. She is also a full member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON); a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb 2017-2019), UK and an executive member of the Institute’s Nigeria Branch.

    Beautiful, hardworking and focused, Elizabeth boasts 36 years of work experience covering corporate and private practice. She started off in the banking industry and rose to the position of Company Secretary of a major deposit bank.

    She, however, proceeded to the oil & gas sector where she also left a remarkable footprint working as the General Manager in charge of Human Resources, Corporate Services and Company Secretarial of a major oil marketing company in Nigeria before returning to the Firm.

    Sharing her perspective on how today’s legal practice compares to her early days in terms of standards, including areas she would like to see improved upon, the legal practitioner said: “The world itself has evolved, not just the legal profession. In our time, a lot of things were manually done and you have to be physically embedded to get things done.

    “Now, it is not the same, technology is the driver and with the advent of artificial intelligence, you can only imagine what the future will look like. Of course, this can be abused and that is where the issue of standards and discipline comes in.

    “I encourage even the older generation to be technologically aware as that is one critical way to speak the language of the younger generation and be able to engender commitment and discipline.”

    Does Elizabeth sometimes feel intimidated by her male counterparts in the legal profession? “No. Not at all,” she said, attributing her capacity to combine managing a big law firm with overseeing the Foundation’s work to focus and planning.

    “I believe it is about staying focused, planning and having the right support. Of course, not forgetting the God factor. God has always been faithful,” she told The Nation.

    However, her remarkable success in the fields of law and philanthropy is not without challenges, especially for women entrepreneurs, who, according to her, “need to work sometimes twice as hard as their male entrepreneurs.”

    She said, for instance, that the challenges can be grouped into two – external and internal.

    The external challenges, she pointed out, are from the environment including but not limited to economic uncertainties, galloping inflation and high cost of goods and services, transportation, fuelling and difficulty assessing funds, which is a major problem in Nigeria; competition, FX issues amongst other related challenges.

    Elizabeth further said the internal challenges are the ones that are internal to an entrepreneur and a female, including but not limited to whether the entrepreneur has a passion for the business, knowledge/experience in what he or she does, his or her drive which is similar to passion but different.

    “The entrepreneur’s vision/mission/values and how he or she applies these to the business, his or her knowledge of how to run a business including knowing that the business revenue is different from the personal income, and so many other factors also matter,” she added.

    The entrepreneur, legal practitioner cum child rights advocate pointed out that a lot of businesses fail where the aforementioned factors are not properly applied. “My advice is that female entrepreneurs should stay strong and focused. They should have a vision and run with it with vigour and dexterity,” she said.

    Elizabeth noted that although gender biases have reduced, there are still some climes that see women as only good enough for making babies and taking care of the home.

    “A woman entrepreneur in such space must work even harder at staying focused,  she should arrange herself to be productive, not using children as excuses. A work-life integration is very important,” she counselled.