Experts
Meet the industry professionals who will uncover opportunities across Agriculture value chains
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Olawale Rotimi, CEO/Founder (JR Farms)
JR Farms was founded by Olawale, Rotimi Opeyemi who is also the CEO of JR Farms global operations. He’s a leading agric entrepreneur, recognised young leader in Africa’s agricultural sector and international speaker who has addressed global audience at high level meetings of various institutions such as The Commonwealth, Harvard, Wilton Park, African Union, UN FAO Africa, ILO, Switzerland Government, MIT among others. Olawale holds a Bachelor and Master Degrees in Religion; he also holds executive certificate in Agribusiness Management Programme from the Lagos Business School and Executive MBA in Food and Agribusiness in Netherlands. Through his initiatives, he has created several jobs and mentored hundreds of young Africans in Botswana, Cameroon, DRC, Niger, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, and other parts of Africa respectively.
Femi Adekoya, AgDrone Specialist (Integrated Aerial Precision)
Femi Adekoya, popularly known as Femifarmer, is an agricultural professional and plant health scientist by training. He has a strong interest and experience with agricultural innovations and technologies. He had his bachelors degree in Horticulture at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He holds a master's degree in Integrated Pest Management at Harper Adams University, Edgmond, United kingdom, through the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship by the UK Government He is the founder of Agridec Ltd, an agricultural value chain and consultancy company, who are also involved in extending and training youths and women in climate-smart and agricultural technologies/techniques that increase farmers' productivity and resilience. He is also a Drone strategist and the head of flight operations at Integrated Aerial Precision; a drone service provider with a special focus on agriculture. Where he provides drone-powered solutions, training and consultancy to individuals and various organizations. Femi is a UK Civil Aviation Authority certified drone pilot and also a drone data analyst, using UAVs and drone data to help farmers and relevant stakeholder adopt and practice precision agriculture. Femi is also a Youth in Data delegate of the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture.
Mories Atoki, CEO (African Business Coalition for Health)
Mories Atoki is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the health development and education space - UN SDG 3 focused on promoting health and well being and on UN SDG 4 focused on promoting quality education. She is skilled in collaborative and sustainable solutions, organizational strategy as well as leadership. She is a result oriented private sector engagement expert with strong business development and communication skills with a Certificate focused on Strategy - Innovating for Sustainability from Harvard Business School.
Tomie Balogun, CEO (Twelve)
Tomie Balogun is a leading expert in the financial education and investment advisory space with excellent competence in helping young working professionals build wealth. She has a proven track record of helping people gain financial literacy and build investment portfolios seamlessly. With a career of over 15 years spanning across investment advisory, fin-tech, value-added technology, telecommunications, and management consulting, she is indeed a force to reckon with in Africa's financial services industry. In management consulting, she dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s as a business analyst in management consulting and as a consultant for the International Financial Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank. Tomie took her career to another level and brought her knowledge of creating value-added services with the aid of technology when she became the Product Manager, West Africa at Greystone Partners Limited. Realizing her innate potentials, Tomie was selected as a young African Leader for an accelerated leadership program in Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications company. She currently seats as CEO, Twelve – a digital financial advisory start-up that promotes financial literacy using communities, investment clubs and technology for its operations. Constantly, Tomie and her dynamic team push out digital financial solutions that are designed to help the youth invest simply and correctly in a way that supports economic growth.
Patrick Habamenshi, Acting Country Director (International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Nigeria)
Patrick Habamenshi is currently the Acting Country Director and Officer in Charge of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Country Office in Nigeria, based in Nigeria. Patrick Habamenshi has worked with IFAD for the last 15 years as an Expert in the areas of Institutional Capacity Building, Development of Medium, Small, and Micro-Enterprises, Rural Programme Development and Program Management. Countries he has worked in include Burundi, Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Comoros, Congo, Congo DRC, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Kingdom of eSwatini, Malawi, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinee Conakry, Ghana, Liberia, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome e Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Prior to joining IFAD, Patrick Habamenshi held two key government positions in his native Rwanda: Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce, in charge of Tourism, Cooperatives and Investments and Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources. Patrick holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar and a Master of Art in Economics from the University of Toronto in Canada.
Olabode Abikoye, CEO (AgGroup Plc.)
Olabode Abikoye has a span of 27 years varied work experience in mortgage banking, commodity exportation, commercial and investment banking in reputable Nigerian financial institutions. He has at various times in the course of his career served as lead in the establishment of strategic business units across various financial institutions in Nigeria in pioneering roles in Agribusiness, PPP, Infrastructure, Private Equity and Asset Management. In these roles he provided strategic direction for the engagement of development opportunities in the areas of power, public transportation, agriculture, education, municipal waste management and health. ‘Bode holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of Ilorin and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He is also an alumnus of the Infrastructure in a Market Economy and Senior Executive Fellows programs of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He led the Agribusiness team in Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, until March 2017 when he was appointed to the Board of Bank of Agriculture (BOA) where he served as the Executive Director leading the Wholesale Banking and Southern Operations Directorate of the Bank. On the Continental and National levels, ‘Bode has also served as the Chairman of Anglophone West Africa (WACRAT II) of the Africa Rural and Agricultural Credit Association and is the currently the Champion for the Agriculture and Food Security Policy Commission at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
Dr. Amin Mohammed Babandi, Director, Agribusiness and Market Development (Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development)
Dr. Amin Babandi is the director of the Agribusiness and Market Development department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. He was the National Project Coordinator of the Agro -Processing, Productivity Enhancement, and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project; a World Bank assisted program from 2018-2020
Rukaiya El-Rufai, Partner, Sustainability & Climate Change services and Public Sector Risk Assurance Services (PwC)
Rukaiya is PwC Nigeria’s lead on Sustainability & Climate Change services and Public Sector Risk Assurance Services. Rukaiya holds an MPA Public Policy & Management from the prestigious London School of Economics & Political Science and Hertie School of Governance Berlin. She graduated from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where she studied Accounting. She is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of industry and consulting work experience. Her experience spans consulting and blue-chip companies in the Nigeria telecommunication industry where she has held several roles prior to joining PwC. She has advised a broad range of public and private sector clients on issues across the sustainability value chain in Nigeria as well as supporting transformational agendas and efforts for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) attainment. Her experience covers development of comprehensive strategies and roadmaps for sustainable development covering the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity. With a practical top-level experience at the Ministry of Finance, Budget & National Planning where she served as a Special Advisor to the Minister on national revenue matters including Domestic Resource Mobilisation (DRM) and on a broader note, fiscal sustainability. Rukaiya brings to bear, her understanding of the Nigerian market and industry value chain, as well as her understanding of sustainability & climate change, including: net zero strategies, climate finance, circular economy and projects that support sustainable development in Nigeria. She advises clients from the private and public sector in identifying impact areas that align with global best practices towards achieving their sustainability aspirations and the UNSDGs. She is a regular speaker at conferences and training dedicated to sustainable development and sustainability.
Ada Osakwe, Founder/CEO (Agrolay Ventures and Nuli)
Ada is the Forbes Africa Business Woman of the year 2021. As an award-winning entrepreneur, investor and passionate African development advocate she has a successful track record with 17+ years experience in private equity investing, development finance, public policy and startup venture-building. She is Managing Partner of Agrolay Ventures, a principal investment firm that deploys capital to early-stage companies that have the potential to transform ecosystems they play, with a focus on food and agriculture. She’s also the Founder of Nuli, an innovative farm-to-table beverage brand and restaurant chain that uses fresh, locally-grown agriculture produce. Ada serves on the Boards of private equity fund, Factor [e] ventures, the global agriculture non-profit, One Acre Fund and the leading plant-based food distributor in Africa, Infinite Foods. She is a member of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Presidential Youth Advisory Group and serves on the Advisory Group of Generation Africa, an initiative to invest in young African agripreneurs co-catalysed by Econet and Yara International. She is the interim Chief Operating Officer of the World Hunger Fighter’s Foundation (WHFF), a non-profit, founded by Dr. Akin Adesina, to invest in young food innovators for a hunger-free world. For three years Ada served as Senior Adviser to Dr. Adesina when he was Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, launching novel initiatives that attracted millions of investments to Nigeria’s agribusiness sector. Prior to her public service she was VP at Kuramo Capital, a New York-based private equity firm, and was a Senior Investment Officer at the AfDB.
Yemisi Iranloye, MD/CEO (Psaltry International Company Ltd)
Yemisi Iranloye is the MD/CEO of Psaltry International Ltd where she has worked as Agro processor for more than 18 years with good knowledge of mechanized Cassava farming and processing. She presently manages over 6000 hectares of cassava plantation for her outgrower and company back up farms. She also is a specialist in organizing farmers into groups of out growers. Yemisi has built her success on an inclusive business model that places smallholder farmers at the center of operations. Psaltry currently transforms cassava into Food Grade Starch, High Quality Cassava Flour and the first to produce Cassava based Sorbitol in Africa. Psaltry International concentrates on strengthening the capacity of its employees, which have more than doubled since 2013 to nearly 300 – 40% of whom are women.
Temitope Omotolani, CEO (CrowdyVest)
Temitope Omotolani is the CEO of Crowdyvest, an impact-driven cooperative society that creates financial solutions for a community of individuals and organizations that are committed to long-term growth and financial freedom in alignment with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. She is also a Co-Founder of Farmcrowdy, Nigeria’s largest digital agricultural platform. She founded her first startup, a make-up business called Gifted Hands when she was 16. She founded two more startups; ‘Fínífíní’, a cleaning services company and ‘Ojawara’, focused on buying and selling of agric products. She has a BSc in Economics from UNILAG and she is also an alumnus of Lagos Business School and FATE Foundation’s Aspiring Entrepreneurship program She is an ardent believer in entrepreneurship as the most sustainable way to eradicate poverty in Africa. She loves traveling, good music, strategy, planning and execution, and is passionate in creating businesses that focus on solving economic problems and adding value to humanity.
Seye Oyeleye, Director General (Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission)
Seye Oyeleye is a Strategic Management expert and Human Resource Manager who has worked in senior management positions both in the public and private sector in Nigeria and Europe for over twenty years. He has served in various capacities in the United Kingdom Civil Service and Local Government ranging from the Ministry of Agriculture, to the Department of Work and Pensions, and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and London Borough of Hackney. Seye has served in senior managerial capacities at Omatek Group, Bluehall Management Consultants and Leadership Academy and the TY Danjuma Foundation as the Group Head, Human Resource and Corporate Strategy. He’s currently the Director General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, the organization set up by the six States in Southwest Nigeria to manage their regional development cooperation.
Odusanya Oludare Afolabi, Project Manager (Sustainable Agriculture) (British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation)
Odusanya Oludare Afolabi holds a bachelor’s degree in Plant Physiology and Crop Production from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta FUNAAB and obtained an MBA in Agribusiness from the same institution. He has a strong passion and desire for agribusiness and human development with great emphasis on young men and women who are somewhat deprived. He is a native to southwest Nigeria and currently occupy the role of Project Manager (Sustainable Agriculture) at a multinational Foundation in Lagos, Nigeria. Prior his relocation, Dare worked as Production Head and Agribusiness coordinator with the Business incubation Platform of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, HQ. Nigeria. Part of his enormous portfolio of engagement availed him the opportunity to develop and review business plans, business modelling techniques and exit strategy for youths who want to start their independent agribusiness enterprises, as well as hands-on experience on the value chains of cassava, maize, fisheries, vegetables to mention a few. He also chairs as an agribusiness facilitator, enumerator and advocate. He has served and pitched on several platforms with great eloquence, fluency and passion for the growth and development of the agribusiness sector for youths in Africa. Prior his penultimate position, he worked as the Production head/Facilitator of the IITA Youth Agripreneurs where he grew in ranks from the marketing and processing department to leading the entire production teams across Nigeria. Oludare has facilitated several training sessions on entrepreneurship, marketing, business plan/models, business management and effective business running among others with a view to endear youths with the requisite agricultural skill capable of making wealth for young people. He holds several honors of excellence from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta amongst others.
Dr. Tunde Adegoke Amole, Country Representative (International Livestock Research Institute, (ILRI) Nigeria)
Dr. Tunde Adegoke Amole is a livestock scientist with over 10 years of experience in the production and improvement of livestock feed resources, forage production and utilization. With International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI, he worked extensively on applying participatory methods in identifying promising feed intervention strategies in smallholder systems using ILRI developed FEAST computer programme in West Africa. He had experience in livestock feed-related issues in both humid tropics and dry lands areas of West Africa, having worked under the CGIAR Humidtropics and Drylands system CRP concurrently. Tunde is experienced in adapting the Livestock Simulation Model (LIVSIM) for the West Africa Dwarf breed of Sheep and goats and simulated adoptable goat production systems for sub-humid zone of Southwestern Nigeria. Tunde worked on the demonstration and evaluation of irrigated fodder production in Northern Ghana, and also on testing and monitoring of on-farm livestock related interventions towards improving livestock productivity. He is the author of a working document on best-fit intervention options in livestock production for climate-smart agriculture. He worked on the increasing the resilience of smallholder farmers’ in the Sahelian areas of West Africa by providing an handbook manual of least cost ration for Sheep fattening, which is an important livelihood resource point for crop-livestock farmers’ in the Sahel. Dr. Tunde conducted a comprehensive research on livestock-water management in water-scarce drylands of sub-Saharan African. His work also focused on improving water use for efficient livestock production in the drylands of West Africa under various livestock management systems in West Africa Sahel. Tunde is the leading expert in tranforming Cassava peel waste into livestock feed, High quality cassava peel (HQCP®) Mash, an ILRI innovation in Nigeria. He is responsible for the training and development of standard protocols for using HQCP Mash in different livestock feed rations. Dr. Amole holds several high profile management roles. He is currently the country representative for the International Livestock Research Institute, (ILRI) Nigeria Office Ibadan where he manages the country research programmes and ILRI staffs in Nigeria.
Dr. Muhammed Abubakar Bala, Vice-President (Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN))
Dr. Muhammed, Abubakar Bala is practicing Veterinary surgeon with over 26 years of extensive experience in livestock production, Animal Health and management. He is a consultant and a fellow (Professional Post graduate Diploma) in Veterinary Surgery at the College of Veterinary Surgeon, Nigeria. Dr Bala Muhammed was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari into the Governing Board of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) in 2018 and, ratified his election as a member and Vice President, Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) in 2020. He was a senior consultant and Project Manager of Food Supply Program in Niger State and FCT, Abuja in the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF). He is a party that established the leading Private Veterinary Clinics and Surgery- Vet World Abuja, BlueBlood Vet Ltd, Vet point Ltd and Life Stock Management Services Ltd where he is the current Director and Supervisory Veterinarian.
Dr. Ikechukwu Kelikume, Programme Director - Agribusiness (Lagos Business School)
Ikechukwu Kelikume leads sessions in the microeconomic, macroeconomic environment of business and agribusiness at Lagos Business School. He obtained his doctoral degree in Economics from the Swiss Management Center (SMC University, Switzerland). An economist with over 22 years of teaching experience in training and facilitating learning across three universities-Covenant University, University of Benin, and Lagos Business School. Kelikume is the current the programme director of the Lagos Business School Agribusiness programme. In addition to teaching, he engages in consulting activities. His consulting activities have included assignments for the World Bank, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Center for Management and Development (CMD) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. He is also actively engaged in consulting in the Oil and Gas sector with Techno Oil, Total Nigeria, Exxon Mobil. He is chair of the Oil Palm Committee that was constituted by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to see to the optimal functioning of privatized State-Owned Oil Enterprises. Also, he is the president of the Pan Atlantic University Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
Eugene Itua, CEO (Natural Eco Capital)
Eugene Itua is the CEO of Natural Eco Capital and leads the Company’s ECO Waste to Wealth Projects. He is s Circular Economy Club Institute Ambassador and CEC Organizer, Abuja. He is the Thematic Lead, Circular Economy and Natural Resources of the Sustainability Policy Commission of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group. Mr Eugene is also a member of College of Research Associates, United Nation University- Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, Convener/Coordinator, West Africa Capitals Coalition Hub and team Lead for first Long-Term Low Emissions Development Vision for Nigeria in line with the Paris Agreement by 2050 Pathway Platform.
Ayo Arikawe, Co-founder (Thrive Agric)
Ayo attended Covenant University where he studied computer engineering and met his present co-founder Uka. They together built serial ventures on campus and upon graduation worked on a company providing access to market for farmers. In 2017 they piloted Thrive Agric a platform that connects farmers to finance, best practices and market upon harvest. Since launching in June 2017 they have worked with over 200,000 farmers across 21 states. Thrive Agric goes a step further by opening up its platform to financial service providers, Insurers, off-takers and development agencies which allows them access data from the farmers and share value among each other. We are now a team of about 200 people, 1000 field officers and 300 warehouses across the country. Ayo is an Alumni of Ycombinator, Google Launchpad and Wayra by Telefonica. He was Top 10 in Jack Ma African Netpreneur Prize and a YTech 100 recipient by the Future Awards Africa. Ayo loves reading, observing nature and building new products.
Amb. Adeniyi Sola Bunmi, CEO (Avocado Society of Nigeria)
Adeniyi Sola Bunmi is an Israeli trained Agribusiness Development/ Value Chain Expert with passion for Agricultural Advocacy and huge experience in Agricultural advisory services. He is an Agribusiness development coach, a certified value chain expert, advocate for youth in agribusiness, agro ambassador, urban farm promoter and a change agent with over a decade experience in the agricultural sector. He has trained over 2500 youth and women through his periodical free on the farm agribusiness empowerment program. Adeniyi Sola has been one of the strong voices in advocating for agribusiness development in Nigeria through youth inclusion in agriculture policy making. He is also a UN Ambassador for World Peace.
Ololade Johnson-Agiri, General Manager (British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation)
Ololade Johnson-Agiri has 13 years of experience, in both corporate and international development organizations, initiating and executing integrated communications strategies and campaigns to advance the goals of the organization’s she’s worked with. She earned a Masters with Distinction in Marketing and Management from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom – winning the Elmwood award for Best graduating Student in Marketing – and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Language arts from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. While working with the United Nations in Nigeria, she led the communication efforts to enhance programmes for inclusive growth, health rights and shared prosperity for all. Lolade co-chairs the United Nations Private Sector Advisory Group, where she co-ordinates private sector participation and synergy for development in the agriculture sector. Through her involvement in different development and commercial activities, she has developed her expertise in strategic communications for corporate visibility; sustainability with a focus on Environmental management, Social impact and Governance (ESG). Lolade enjoys storytelling and uses this skill to project the interests of her audience, whether it is to control a company’s reputational narrative or to secure funding for development initiatives she tells empathic stories that get the desired results. Lolade has received 14 awards of excellence for high performance and innovation. She is a 5-time winner of the BAT West and Central Africa War Lord award for sustainability. When she’s not working, Lolade loves to read and learn!
Oke-Tojinu Sejiro Michael, CEO (Sejfarms Ventures)
Oke-Tojinu Sejiro Michael is a seasoned and an accomplished consultant in Agriculture and other allied matters with verifiable tract records of numerous feats. This is confirmed by the many recommendations he has gotten from notable personalities and organizations for great agricultural projects and programmes across Nigeria and beyond, including a sponsored international training in Isreal in 2018. He is the CEO of Sejfarms Ventures and the incumbent State Vice-President of Lagos State Catfish and Allied Farmers Association, LASCAFAN.
Dr Ifeoma Monye, Internationally Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician (Founder, Brookfield Centre for Lifestyle Medicine)
Dr Ifeoma Monye, Chief Consultant Family Physician at the National Hospital, Abuja and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, is dual qualified in Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and board certified in Lifestyle Medicine by the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine and the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr Monye is the founder of the first certified Lifestyle Medicine Centre in Africa; The Brookfield Centre for Lifestyle Medicine, Abuja, Nigeria. In pioneering purpose, Dr Monye, supported by passionate medical colleagues, founded the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria in 2017. She serves as a member of the Advisory Council for the International Virtual Group Consultations. She also serves on the Advisory Council of Global Positive Health Institute (GPHI). In 2020, she was appointed an expert member of the Health and Nutrition Technical Working Group of the Nigeria Development Plan- Agenda 2020-2050. She is a published author and serves on the Editorial Boards of both the International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention-Incorporating the International Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, as well as the Lifestyle Medicine Journal. She is a reviewer for the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. She is the publisher of “Lifestyle Choices”. She is the first author of a soon to be published textbook in Lifestyle Medicine; “Lifestyle Medicine: Essential MCQs For Certification in Lifestyle Medicine” (WILEY Publishers). Dr Monye calls attention to everyone to note that the time for a pill for every ill is over and that we must now make healthy lifestyle choices to prevent, treat and where possible, reverse the course of disease. A patient who walks into her consulting room is just as likely to walk away with a prescription of Tiger nuts, bread fruits, pumpkin leaves, African walnuts, Hibiscus tea, 30 minutes moderate intensity exercise 6 days a week, as they are for Losartan or Lipitor! An ardent believer in the role of happiness and contentment in health and well-being, she desires to see patients live happy, meaningful lives, achieve improved outcomes, while physicians live healthier and happier lives with much better job satisfaction. Dr Monye is a co-presenter at Trinity broadcasting Network (TBN) on a programme called “KEYS TO HEALTH, WHOLENESS, AND FRUITFULNESS”. She is a Speaker, Mentor, Health and well-being coach and a Life coach and is married to Prof Sylvester Monye and has four lovely children.
Humphrey Otalor, Marketing Communications Manager (Dizengoff Nigeria)
Mr. Humphrey Otalor is the Marketing Communications Manager at Dizengoff Nigeria, a position he assumed in 2014, providing strategic marketing and communications direction for their Nigerian operations. Prior to his joining Dizengoff Nigeria, Mr. Otalor had a stint as the Marketing Manager for Bayswater Industries Nigeria, after several years in marketing communications agencies including; JSP Corporate Communications, Towncriers and PFC Africa, where he worked on some of the world’s most admirable brands, giving public relations, media relations, event management and brand management support, for brands like; Coca- Cola, Intel, Nokia, Microsoft, GSK, Kewalram, AXAMansard Insurance Plc. Standard Chartered Bank etc. While in the agencies, Mr. Otalor managed several accounts across various sectors including Oil & Gas, FMCG, Financial services, NGOs and Public sectors. Currently at Dizengoff Nigeria, Mr. Otalor works with various stakeholders across the agric value-chain. Over the years he has collaborated with private and public sector on some major agric projects in the country, from mechanization, greenhouse technology, and Irrigation solution. Mr. Otalor is an alumnus of the University of Lagos. A member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and Business Education Examinations Council.
Debo Akande, Executive Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture (Oyo State Government)
Debo Akande is the Executive Adviser to the Governor of Oyo State on Agribusiness and the Director-General of Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency. He is a Senior Specialist with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, with close to 20 years of International Development Management experience. He is the Sub-Sharan Africa IITA Head of Agribusiness and Mechanisation and the former Head of Station of Olusegun Obasanjo Station in Democratic Republic of Congo, the third-largest IITA Research for Development station in Africa. He leads IITA Agribusiness management globally with a specific focus on public policy, new business development and private sector engagement in agribusiness for economic development. He has piloted several global agricultural development projects with verifiable success, which includes recently, the World Bank Integrated Project for Agricultural Growth (PICAGL) in the Great lake of Africa and the Muti-Donor AgResults Global Initiative. He is a member of the Global Consortium Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Research Program on Agriculture for Health and Nutrition and One of the four Country Coordinators of the CGIAR Flagship on Food System and Healthier Diet in the World and the second in Africa and a CGIAR Scientific comitte delegate to the United Nation Food System summit engagement process. He has led several Agribusiness management and consultancy work for and with a diverse international institution including with World Bank, African Development Bank, Deloitte LLP USA, USAID, UK DFID, Canada Finance, Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation and Australia Aid among many. He has a Doctoral Degree in Business Management from the University of Hertfordshire, the United Kingdom with a speciality on Agribusiness Strategy Development and Management. He also holds Masters and Bachelors Degrees in International Development Studies from the United Kingdom and Diplomas in International Environmental Law at United Nation Institute for Training and Research, Switzerland; Agribusiness Management from Pan African University, Nigeria. He was trained in Climate Change Management at the Oxford University, United Kingdom, Food Security Policy at Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Bank, Negotiation Conflict Analysis and Management from the United State Institute of Peace, United States, Sustainability Development Diplomacy (July 2011); Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University Boston, Wageningen University, the Netherlands under the Sustainable Challenge Foundation, Netherland among others. He is a Chartered Manager and recently been honoured and conferred a Fellow of the Chartered Managers Institute, United Kingdom.
Ola Olajumoke, Director of Agricultural Technical Services (Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority)
Ola Olajumoke had Msc in Natural Resource Management. She is the Director of Agricultural Technical Services under Technical Component of Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority with over 25 years of experience in the Agricultural space. She is a certified Prince 2 Project Manager and have served in various capacities in the Lagos State and World Bank funded projects.
Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (The Presidency)
Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire served as Deputy-Governor of Lagos State from 2011 to May 2015 and is an accomplished politician with many years of experience in public service. She has also served as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State. In 2007 she was awarded the International Public Servant of the Year award by the Scottish Widows; a UK-based NGO and bagged the Lagos State Man of the Year award in 2009. She is a recipient of the Guinness World Records for the most children reading aloud with an adult at a single location, which she achieved while reading with 4,222 school children in 2011.
Steve Okeleji, CEO (Aquatic Hub Afrique)
Steve Okeleji’s experience in Aquaculture and Fisheries Management is as vast as his existence. He was raised by a Veterinary Father and as such, grew up learning and working on the farm. He is a graduate of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management from the prestigious University of Agriculture, Abeokuta now FUNAAB. In his second year in the institution, he founded FISH SHOAL NIGERIA focusing on fingerlings and juvenile’s production, presently with a production capacity of 5.2 million fish per annum. FISH SHOAL NIGERIA has worked with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nigeria under the Fisheries Growth Enhancement Support Scheme, West African Agricultural Productivity Programme and the World Bank. Fish Shoal Nigeria also had a collaboration with Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) on a program called Business Innovation Facility (BIF) sponsored by the Department for International Development (DFID). This UKAID programme aimed to facilitate the market between small scale fish farmers and large-scale fish farmers and the market. He established AQUATIC HUB AFRIQUE NETWORK which focus on providing training and support for youths, women, small holder farmers, fresh graduates and players along the value-chain of Aquaculture. He is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AQUASEAS COMPANY LIMITED. AQUASEAS manages the largest aquaculture outfit in Africa located in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Steve also doubles as the Chairman of Blue-Echo Foundation (Aquatic Hub Afrique’s Non-Profit), he is a member of the steering committee of the New Nigeria Foundation. Steve is married to a beautiful wife with kids.
Seyi Ifelaja, FIAM, Managing Director (Huios Global Alliance,MaxiMeat Business Ventures)
Seyi is an Agribusiness Management Consultant, Market specialist, and subject matter expert across various thematic areas in the Agricultural sector. MD of Huios Global Alliance, an Agribusiness consultancy and advisory concern. And the partner and director of Sahel Ranch and Fodder Agro Allied providing technical-advisory services in the Livestock sector and owner of MaxiMeat Business Ventures. A Fellow of the Institute of Agribusiness Management of Nigeria and President of the Lagos state Chapter. A Member of NESG Agriculture & Food Security Policy Commission in different thematic areas which include, Access to Agricultural Finance, Sustainable Land Management, Inputs & Distribution, Post-Harvest Loss Management, Mechanisation and Market Access.
Ife Adeniyi, Managing Consultant (Ife’s indulgence International Services)
Ife Adeniyi is a young Agripreneur with an excellent credential: Agribusiness, Entrepreneurship, Hotel Management, Civic Leadership, Administration, and Youth Engagement/Development. She is a Certified UNDP Supply Chain Consultant with experience in Pig Farming and Agribusiness Development. Her exceptional passion to feed her country has made her to establish over 15 pig farms, resuscitated over 7 farms and also consults for investors and agribusiness enthusiasts by turning their ideas into sustainable and profitable business. She is currently a Managing Consultant at Ife’s indulgence International Services, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria (an Agribusiness Consultancy firm that specializes in Agribusiness Development) and also volunteers as the Osun State Coordinator of the UNESCO endorsed SPELL&THRILL! team, a literacy enhancement organization.
Olusola Sowemimo, Founder (Ope Farms)
Olusola Sowemimo is a Lawyer, Human Resource expert, public speaker, etiquette coach and an organic farmer. She started Ope Farms with the bright idea that the consumers of our produce will eat only safe and healthy food which will nourish their bodies. The farm has since been featured on BBC and France 24. Ope Farms supports the sustainable goals 2, 3 and 12
William Ezeagu, Director (Product Development Department, Nigerian Export Promotion Council)
William Ezeagu is presently the Director in charge of Product Development Department at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Abuja. He has mentored new exporting companies to venture into export business. Mr. Ezeagu has also worked as an Advisor on Agribusiness for the world Bank assisted Commercial Agriculture Development Programme (CADP) as well as the National Expert for Value Chains under the UNIDO NQIP project. He has rich experience in product development including packaging, labelling and Quality Certifications
Bamidele Omitoyin, Professor of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management (University of Ibadan)
Bamidele Oluwarotimi Omitoyin is an Aquaculture and Fisheries expert with about 34 years of experience. He is a Professor, former Head of Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management and former Dean of Faculties of Agriculture and Forestry; and Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan. He has successfully pioneered commercial aquaculture in Nigeria with track records and has served as a consultant to many fish farms, National and International Fisheries Organization.
Ayodeji Balogun, CEO (AFEX Commodities Exchange Limited)
Ayodeji Balogun is the CEO of AFEX Commodities Exchange Limited where he is leading a team of experts leveraging technology, innovative finance, and inclusive agriculture to connect smallholder farmers to commodity and financial markets. He holds an MBA from Lagos Business School and formed a part of the first cohort of the Global CEO Africa Program where he specialized in Management. He has also earned a certificate in Creative Leadership from the THNK School of Creative Leadership while continuing to lead efforts to achieve food security and agriculture financing development in the Agriculture Sector in Nigeria and designing physical and derivative contracts for commodities across markets in Africa.
Ajibola Alfred, Founder/CEO (Straplan Advisory Limited)
Ajibola Alfred (FIMC/CMC) is founder and CEO of Straplan Advisory Limited. He is a management consultant with about two decades of experience spanning market intelligence, strategic planning, finance, and project management roles in private and public institutions in Nigeria. He advises on markets, industry and government policies for strategic planning and provides insights on industry dynamics, market entry and penetration, barriers, enablers and competitiveness.
Akin Alabi, Co-founder (Corporate Farmers Int.)
Akin Alabi’s passion for Agriculture started over 20 years ago when we created a dynamic way of how youths can begin to see Agriculture differently using the power of Digitalization by creating an award winning Blog called the Corporate Farmers Blog which has now transformed into a multi-Million Naira company called Corporate Farmers International. He is also the Author of The Rise of Digital Agriculture with distribution across Nigeria and Africa and the programe Director of Nigeria Youth Connect To Work project which has trained over 40 thousands youth across Nigeria.
Samson Ogbole, Team lead (Eupepsia Place Limited (Soilless Farm Lab))
Farmer Samson Ogbole is the Team lead for Eupepsia Place Limited (Soilless Farm Lab), - an agritech company. Farmer Samson believes “food production should not be seasonal because hunger is not and that “the process of food production must be healthy for the farmer, the consumer and the environment”. He has a B.Sc. Biochemistry Igbinedion, M. Sc. Biochemistry, Ibadan, Common Wealth of Nations MBA, National Open University of Nigeria (in view), PhD Biochemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (in view). Other certificates include Biotechnology from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Introduction to Food and Nutrition from Stanford University, Introduction to population health from The University of Manchester, Greening the Economy from Lund University Sweden, Sustainable Agriculture for year 2050 from Wageningen, Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture from The University of Western Australia Certification, and Public Health from University at Albany.
Edobong Akpabio, Agro-entrepreneur & Business Consultant ()
Mrs Edobong Akpabio is an agro-entrepreneur and business consultant with a passion for supporting entrepreneurs to grow their businesses successfully. She is an ILO-SIYB Certified Trainer, a Cherie Blair Foundation Mentor, a Fate Foundation Volunteer Facilitator and Mentor, and a Certified Lead Auditor in ISO-QMS 9001:2015 and ISO-FSMS 22001:2008. She is a member of reputable professional bodies and serves on the boards of a few organizations.
Ndidi Nwuneli, Co-founder (AACE Foods)
Ndidi Nwuneli is the Managing Partner of Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Ltd., which works across West Africa shaping agricultural policy, creating catalytic ventures, and implementing ecosystem solutions. She is also the co-founder of AACE Foods, which sources from over 10,000 farmers and produces a range of packaged spices, seasonings, and cereals for local and international markets. Ndidi is also the founder of LEAP Africa which inspires, empowers, and equips a new cadre of principled, disciplined, and dynamic young leaders in Africa. She is the chair of Nourishing Africa, a digital knowledge, financing and data hub which is enabling agribusiness entrepreneurs in 34 African countries to scale.
