AGRA’S WOMEN AGRIPRENEURS OF THE YEAR AWARDS WINNERS FETED

AGRA has  announced the winners of the 2023 Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA2023) at the Africa Food Systems Forum,  (AGRF2023)  held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

 These exceptional women have illuminated the path to excellence through their groundbreaking innovations driving transformative growth in the agricultural sector across Africa.

Backbone

Women are the backbone of agriculture in Africa. They comprise over  fifty  percent of agricultural labour force in developing countries. These numbers underscore the importance of ensuring that women smallholder farmers enjoy a level playing field.  This year’s heroines hail from  Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. They  received a total of US85,000 in grant funding during the ceremony in the following categories :  Outstanding Value Adding Enterprise, Female Ag Tech Innovator, Young Female Agripreneur (Rising Star)  and Grand Prize.

Women Agriprenuer of the Year Award (WAYA), currently in its third edition was launched in 2021 at the AGRF Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. It is an important part of AGRA’s VALUE4HER programme. WAYA recognizes women agripreneurs from across the continent, who have excelled in different segments of the agricultural value chain and have shown remarkable innovation in their businesses. The awards aim to create visibility for successful women, serving as positive role models, stimulating innovation  and fostering ambition among African women agripreneurs.

Winners

This year, the four  winners were selected from a pool of 1,340 candidates spanning  forty two  African countries, all of whom, are recognized for their commitment to shaping the future of agri-food systems through pioneering new ideas, technologies  and sustainable practices to positively impact their communities. This formidable task was spearheaded by a panel of resolute and experienced judges that included :  Betty Kiplagat the Government Affairs Leader for Africa  and  the Middle East at Corteva, Binta Touré Ndoye a Pan-African banker, Caroline Emond the Chief Eexcutive Officer  of International Dairy Federation, Marieme Esther Dassanou the Director of Gender Programmes at MasterCard Foundation  and Judy Matu the National Executive Chairlady at the Association of Women Accountants  Kenya (AWAK).

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, president of AGRA congratulated the winners  for their dedication towards transforming challenges into opportunities and re-shaping the landscape of Africa’s agro food systems.  “Over the past two editions, we have witnessed remarkable stories of resilience, innovation  and unwavering dedication,” said Dr. Kalibata. “ These women have demonstrated their ability to drive positive change, inspire their communities  and contribute significantly to food security, climate adaptation, economic growth  and sustainable development. Their journeys inspire us all and stand as a testament to the incredible potential that lies within every individual, regardless of their gender,” she added.

The grand prize  winner was Siny Samba, Chief Executive Officer, Le Lionceau ( Senegal). This award  recognizes the female owned agri-business that exhibits the best innovations in the agri-business sector across all the categories.  Additionally,  Lucy Chioma Aniagolu, Founder, Agrodemy Enterprises ( Nigeria) was the winner of the Young Female Agripreneur ( Rising Star) award. This category  recognizes high-potential young females (below  thirty five  years) demonstrating innovation and leadership in agribusiness. In the same vein, Maryanne Ruguru Gichanga, director, AgriTech Analytics ( Kenya) won in the Female Agripreneur Tech Innovator category.

The award recognizes female agripreneurs championing technological advancement in agribusiness. Finally, Bernice Dapaah, Chief Executive Officer, Bright Generation Community Foundation ( Ghana) scooped the Outstanding Value-adding Enterprise award.  It  recognizes female-owned agribusinesses that are increasing the economic value or  consumer appeal to agricultural products.