100AfroFoodsAwards

Princess Adeyinka Tekenah is the founder of one of Nigerian’s brand indigenous premium coffee

and company, Happy Coffee, and the convener of Lagos Coffee Festival. Princess Adeyinka was the 1st elected National president for Nigerian Women in Coffee. She is the author of the African Coffee Creed for Women. She continues to play a vital role in advocating for the growth of the Nigerian Coffee with a major focus on creating sustainable models to empower the lives of female farmers and youths, whilst tackling poverty and unemployment. She is passionate about business designs and advancement, leading to sustainable growth and development for African women. She continues to build and mentor girls and women across the Nigerian business ecosystem. Over 15 years, she is a well seasoned speaker with vast expertise in business, enterprise growth, and design management, to mention a few. She mentors women and young people across Africa. Her bision is to impact practiceacble knowledge to her audience. She has graced stages, both locally and internationally. She is raising an intelligent son. She loves to travel, cook, and meet new people. She believes human interaction is key to profound human experiences.

Michael Akinsete is the Cofounder and Chief Marketing Officer of Ecotutu, a climate-smart cold chain and logistics company addressing post-harvest losses and food access challenges across Africa. He is also known as The Food Systems Guy, a food systems advocacy and thought-leadership platform that shapes discourse on food security, agribusiness innovation, and sustainable value chains. With experience spanning marketing strategy, food systems communication, and ecosystem building, Michael works at the intersection of agriculture, technology, and policy. His work focuses on translating systemic food challenges into scalable, farmer-centered, and market-driven solutions. Through Ecotutu and his public commentary, he has contributed to increased awareness of cold chain infrastructure, data gaps in food production, and the urgent need for investment in post-harvest systems. Michael is passionate about building resilient food systems that deliver economic value, reduce waste, and drive inclusive growth across Africa.

Baliqees Salaudeen-Ibrahim is a leading African agribusiness entrepreneur, climate innovator, and food systems advocate driving inclusive and sustainable transformation across Nigeria and the continent. She is the CEO and Co-founder of Green Republic Farms, a climate-smart horticultural enterprise pioneering controlled-environment farming to deliver fresh, high-quality vegetables while strengthening local food systems, creating inclusive jobs and improving livelihoods. Through Green Republic Farms, Baliqees integrates greenhouse, controlled environment open-field and soilless farming, renewable energy, and digital technologies to produce habaneros, tomatoes, bell peppers, sweetcorn and other horticultural crops. Her “farming-closer-to-the-market” model shortens supply chains, reduces post-harvest losses, lowers transportation emissions, and ensures consistent access to affordable, nutritious food across Southwest Nigeria, directly addressing Africa’s food security and resilience challenges.

Maryam Ahmed is a seasoned Chartered Accountant with 11 years of experience in the banking
industry, Maryam Ahmed transitioned into the culinary world to pursue her passion for food, sustainability, and cultural heritage. She is the founder of Mimies Homemade Sauces and Taste of Arewa, two food ventures focused on celebrating and preserving Northern Nigerian cuisine. As a food sustainability advocate and culinary entrepreneur, she integrates modern techniques with traditional Arewa ingredients, aiming to ensure cultural food preservation for future generations. She currently holds advocacy leadership positions with LAWFF- Leading African Women in Food Fellowship and CAPA- Culinary Arts Practitioners Association.

Elizabeth Oladepo is an entrepreneur and agribusiness professional with a strong focus on food security, sustainability, and economic empowerment. She is the CEO of 07 Foods, a food processing company committed to delivering safe, nutritious products while strengthening local food systems in Nigeria. She holds an MBA in Agribusiness Management and has trained over 644 women and young entrepreneurs, equipping them with practical skills to build resilient and scalable businesses across the agrifood value chain. Elizabeth serves on global and advisory platforms, including as a Leading African Women in Food Fellow (LAWFF), a One Young World Ambassador, and a member of the Youth Advisory Committee to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, contributing to policy discussions on entrepreneurship and economic development.

Fasanmi Afolabi is a creative Nigerian Food and Lifestyle Photographer dedicated to capturing the rich essence of African culinary arts and culture. Through a keen eye for detail and a unique storytelling approach, Afolabi highlights the beauty and vibrancy of the food and beverage industry. Fola’s. work serves to bridge the gap between traditional heritage and contemporary lifestyle, making a significant impact on how African gastronomy is perceived globally. He is also a trained chef and Content creator.

Ritha Johansen is a conservation consultant and founder. Johansen’s work is fueled by a simple belief: everyday choices can heal both people and the planet. After using food to heal herself, she founded a food and beverage company to make those powerful, organic choices accessible to all. By sourcing directly from farmers and honoring traditional methods like fermentation—which enhance gut health, nutrition, and shelf life, she supports rural communities while putting healthy, nourishing options on supermarket shelves. Johansen is dedicated to inspiring conscious action for a better environment and a healthier future.

Ama Udofa has lived many lives. He began as a poet, then fiction called. Soon, storytelling led him into marketing, first for brands, then for himself. Today, he’s an award-winning creator whose work explores food, money, and youth culture in a rapidly changing world.  As a content creator, Ama explores making food from around the world and examines the sociology of food, taste, and culinary history. His work includes video essays on the historical evolution of bread and the cultural implications of global culinary standards on the African continent. By documenting the intersection of identity and the food industry, Udofa’s projects aim to provide a critical perspective on how culinary narratives are shaped and consumed. Across a career that spans literature, media, logistics, food, and fintech, Ama has worn many hats, but one thread ties them all together: the story always comes first.

Ameenah Kazeem is a visionary entrepreneur and the Founder of OFADAHUB NIGERIA LIMITED, a leading agro- processing company dedicated to providing healthy, locally grown rice through strategic partnerships with smallholder farmers. With a background in Quantity Surveying and extensive experience in the food processing industry, Ameenah is recognized as a key leader in the Nigerian agribusiness space, driving positive change and innovation within the local rice value chain. As the founder of Ofadahub, Ameenah has established herself as a champion of sustainable agribusiness practices in Nigeria. She works tirelessly to empower smallholder farmers, promote food security, and enhance the local food production ecosystem. Her efforts have significantly contributed to improving the quality of locally grown rice, ensuring it meets high standards of health and safety for consumers.

Adams Ismail is a Nigerian food photographer who helps restaurants grow online through visual storytelling. With an eye for detail and culture, he turns meals into moments that sell.  His work blends appetite appeal, and hospitality insight, creating images that feel warm, premium, and relatable. He understands the perfect lighting and composition for food and he designs content with conversion in mind. His approach is thoughtful, consistent, and rooted in storytelling that connects kitchens to customers across platforms and campaigns nationwide.

 

Ozioma is the founder of Eden-Acres Integrated Organic Farm, a pioneer farm to table agricultural company that partners with small farm owners to grow and distribute quality fresh food while creating access to premium markets and ensuring consumers have fresh food on their plate at every meal time.  She is also the founder of Eden Whole Foods, a food processing company focused on promoting Nigerian/African heritage food and superfoods across the continent and on the global stage.  Ozioma is an award-winning Agripreneur with a rich background in sales and marketing, specializing in market research, product development, and customer experience. With over a decade experience in the finance industry, and 7 years in the Nigerian agricultural space, she brings a cumulative experience of 17 years to Food & Agribusiness.

Isiak Fauzziyah Ebunoluwa is a Nigerian bio-dynamic beekeeper and nature enthusiast. She is the founder of Fauzziyah’s Honey, a brand known for providing hives for wild bees. She is passionate about sustainable beekeeping and the production of natural, wholesome products, including Fauzziyah’s raw honey and Oyin Black Soap, made using traditional methods. Her work has received media recognition, and she is known for her straightforward nature, love for education, and dedication to ethical, nature-based products.

Oluwaseun Obadan is the Founder and CEO of Arso Farms Limited and The Green Life Company, an agro-processing and wellness enterprise committed to improving food security in Nigeria through sustainable farming and innovative food manufacturing. Her work focuses on empowering smallholder farmers, reducing post-harvest waste, and making nutrition more accessible through value-added products such as freeze-dried fruit and vegetable powders. With a Master’s degree in Architecture and training from Lagos Business School, the U.S. Consulate’s Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, and Orange Corners (Kingdom of the Netherlands), Oluwaseun combines systems thinking with entrepreneurial leadership. She is passionate about youth development, ethical leadership, and building scalable solutions at the intersection of agriculture, wellness, and technology across Africa.

 

Tracy Dabul is a growth-driven marketing and partnerships professional with over 8 years of experience building brands, unlocking markets, and driving expansion within the agricultural sector. Beyond business, she is deeply committed to impact work, championing youth, women, and community-focused initiatives that make agriculture accessible and aspirational. Tracy blends strategy, innovation, and purpose to create sustainable solutions that empower people and drive long-term growth.

Osato Akintunde is the founder of El Gazelle Foods Limited, a pioneering agribusiness that modernizes traditional snack production. A 2023 Mandela Washington Fellow, she has gained recognition for using innovative food-drying technology to produce healthy, NAFDAC-certified kilishi (dried meat) while significantly reducing agricultural post-harvest loss. Beyond her technical expertise in the FMCG sector, she is a vocal advocate for women’s empowerment, actively mentoring female entrepreneurs and supporting local livestock farmers. Her leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including the Youngest Entrepreneur award from the Nigeria Hype Awards and recognition as one of Nigeria’s top 20 MSME founders.

Pheladi Chiloane is an Agripreneur, focusing on strengthening food security and supporting emerging farmers. She promotes sustainable and climate-smart farming practices while advancing agro-processing and rural development initiatives. Through farmer support programmes and infrastructure investment, she aims to boost agricultural productivity, create jobs, and empower communities to participate meaningfully in the Mpumalanga province’s agricultural economy.