UnipreneurIseyin successfully has concluded its multifaceted event aimed at bridging the gap between knowledge and implementation in food systems. The event featured a commencement speech, an inspiration session, the ONE Agribusiness Hub, and a pitching competition, bringing together industry experts, budding entrepreneurs, and key stakeholders.
Prince David Adeoye, Executive Director of Oak Nation Entrepreneurial Foundation, delivered the Commencement speech, highlighting that participants were not at UnipreneurIseyin to compete but to contribute to bridging the gap in food systems. He emphasized that the ONE Agribusiness Hub will operate as a hybrid using Jupita De Light Barrack Iseyin as the physical venue and virtual classes via Google Classroom. Additionally, the winners of the seed grant will receive their funding in stages as their businesses require. The remaining four teams will be linked with adopters, and additional seed grants will be pursued.
The event commenced with an inspiring session led by industry experts Mr. Stephen Popoola of Agro Optimizer Ltd and Mr. Paul Fasoro of Commodity Trading. They provided valuable insights to bridge the knowledge gap in food systems and enhance food security, setting the stage for the subsequent activities.
Admission Process: the hub began with a stringent admission process where 10 businesses submitted a 90-second video about their business, a business model canvas, and cash flow versus cash flow projections. This process ensured the selection of the most promising ventures.
Onboarding of Businesses; the initial cohort of ten businesses was narrowed down to six, with team structures ranging from 1-3 members, and one team already operating as an ongoing concern.
Pre-pitch Incubation; A 90-minute hybrid interactive session was held, allowing the six businesses to engage with six panelists and receive direct feedback. The panelists included Bimbo Adedeji of Slowfood Nigeria, Olansile Olanrewaju of CassavaVibes, Busayo Olusoji of BucksWays Leverages Ltd, Stephen Popoola of Agro Optimizer Ltd, Paul Fasoro of Commodity Trading, and Emmanuel Ayanwole.
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In the final phase, the six teams, all students from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Iseyin Campus, pitched their ideas for 5 minutes each, followed by feedback from the judges. The top three teams, identified as the most feasible, innovative, and cohesive, were Kitchen Bliss by Salma, Green Garden Global, and AbrahamLincoln Farm Enterprise, and they were awarded the ONE seed grant.
#UnipreneurIseyin successfully disseminated privileged information and actionable insights to bridge the knowledge and doing gap in food systems among higher education students, the precision agriculture community, commodity traders, cooperative groups, and food security agencies. This event marked a significant step towards achieving sustainable food systems and empowering the next generation of agribusiness leaders.
This event was made possible through the collaboration of Oak Nation Entrepreneurial Foundation with Derby Centre of Entrepreneurship at Tuft, Agro Optimizer Ltd, and RAC Iseyin Pathfinder.
To further the impact of the ONE Agribusiness Hub and support more businesses, we are seeking grants and funding opportunities. These resources will enable us to sustain the hub’s operations and provide essential seed grants to promising agribusiness ventures, ensuring their growth and contribution to food security.
By securing additional grants, we can expand our reach, support more entrepreneurs, and drive sustainable development in the agribusiness sector. We invite organizations, philanthropists, and development finance institutions to join us in this mission to empower the next generation of agribusiness leaders.
For further information and to support this initiative, please contact:
[oaknationef@gmail.com, 08117558315]
