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.
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.”
