Nigeria's agricultural landscape is witnessing a revolution, driven by women leveraging technology to transform farming, improve yields and reshape agribusiness across the country.
From precision farming to data-driven supply chains, women in agritech are redefining the way food is grown, processed and marketed in Nigeria.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), women make up about 45 percent of Nigeria's agricultural workforce, but receive less than 20 percent of available funding and support. Yet, agritech is emerging as an equalizer, providing women with digital tools to access credit, climate information and extension services that were previously out of reach.
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Limited access to funding, poor infrastructure, unreliable supply chains and outdated equipment have long held Nigeria's agricultural sector back. For women, these challenges are even more severe, compounded by cultural norms and systemic inequalities that restrict access to land, finance, and decision-making networks.
Government and development initiatives such as the Women in Agribusiness and Innovation Hub and SheGrows Africa are helping to bridge this gap, while private players such as ThriveAgriculture and Relief are launching mentorship programs to bring more women into tech-enabled agribusiness.
Since more than 70 percent of smallholder farmers are women, digital innovation can significantly increase productivity, reduce wastage and create rural employment.
Here are five women who are breaking barriers and leading campaigns through farm-to-farm connections.
Angel Adelaja – Fresh Direct Nigeria
She is the founder and CEO of Fresh Direct Produce and Agro-Allied Services, as well as co-founder of WeFarmAfrica.org.
A pioneer in urban agriculture technology, Adelaja is using innovation to solve Nigeria's food shortage problem. Through her ventures Fresh Direct Produce and WeFarmAfrica, she is connecting communities using smart agriculture technologies.
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He introduced the stackable container farm, which reduces pressure on land use and eliminates the need for imported vegetables. Their urban organic farms use less water and land than traditional methods, while achieving 15 times higher yields.
By bringing high-quality, locally grown produce closer to urban consumers, she is redefining the future of food production in cities.
Ayesha Bashir – Cam Dairy Foods Limited
She is the Founder and CEO of Cam Dairy Foods Limited. In Northern Nigeria, Bashir is transforming the dairy industry through her company, Cam Dairy Foods Limited.
Their mission is to bridge Nigeria's huge dairy import gap by building local value chains from scratch.
Cam Dairy partners with hundreds of herders throughout the region, training them in modern animal health, feeding and milk-handling practices. The company also provides veterinary support and financing, ensuring farmers can meet market standards.
The milk collected is cooled, pasteurized, and packaged into fresh dairy products sold in supermarkets and homes across the country – a model that empowers local producers and boosts rural incomes.
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Aisha Rahim-Bolarinwa – Farmz2U
She is the founder of Farmz2U. With Farmz2U, Rahim-Bolarinwa is helping smallholder farmers work smarter and sell their products more effectively.
Their digital platform integrates data science, AI and market analytics to reduce inefficiencies in Nigeria's agricultural value chains.
Through the Farmz2U mobile app, farmers get access to advisory services, input suppliers and real-time market forecasts, helping them plan production based on consumer demand.
Their innovation is enabling farmers to make data-driven decisions, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase profitability one smartphone at a time.
Affiong Williams – Reelfruit
She is the Founder and CEO of Reelfruit. As the founder of ReelFruit, Williams has built Nigeria's leading dried fruit processing and packaging company.
Her company procures mangoes, pineapples, coconuts and cashews from more than 250 small farmers, about 40 percent of whom are women.
ReelFruit transforms this product into premium snacks such as dried fruit packs and fruit-nut mixes, which are available in over 400 retail outlets across Nigeria and exported through Amazon and other international platforms.
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Williams' model not only adds value to local produce, but also creates jobs and empowers women farmers in its supply chain.
Ella Samuel – Pleroma Farms & Agribusiness Ltd
She is the CEO of Pleroma Farms and Agribusiness Limited. With over 15 years of experience in banking and international trade, Samuel is bringing corporate discipline and innovation to agriculture.
Through Pleroma Farms and Agribusiness Limited, she farms and processes vegetables, spices such as ginger and turmeric and staple crops such as cassava, yam and potato in Abuja, Kaduna, Benue and Nasarawa.
Pleroma Foods also produces dehydrated vegetables, flour and pulses, helping to reduce post-harvest losses and extend the shelf life of local produce. Samuel's work is helping to modernize Nigeria's agribusiness sector, while creating opportunities for women and youth in rural communities.
