Kola Masha, the Nigerian entrepreneur drying up support for Boko Haram Kola Masha is a Nigerian social entrepreneur and the founder of Babban Gona. He founded his firm in 2010 to bring jobs and stability to his home country. Worldwide, Nigeria is ranked among countries with high-security vulnerabilities. The north of Nigeria is the hotbed […]
Kola Masha, the Nigerian entrepreneur drying up support for Boko Haram Read More »
There has been an increase in the number of talents, youths most especially, seeking jobs in agritech companies. This may be attributed to improved access to funding opportunities, farm inputs, technological innovations and digital solutions in the agricultural sector. In 2020, youths accounted for over 70% of Babban Gona’s members. Experts in the past stated
Top 8 in Demand Jobs in Agritech Companies Read More »
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) defines Climate change as a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates. Over the years, the Earth’s climate has experienced tremendous variations resulting from burning fossil fuels such as oil and gas, which increase emissions of harmful gases.
Ways to Mitigate Climate Change in Agriculture Read More »
The adoption of digital technologies in agriculture has become a developing trend in modern day farming in Nigeria. At Babban Gona, through our technology platform, we provide training, financial credit, agricultural inputs, harvesting and marketing services to tens of thousands of our member smallholder farmers dramatically increasing their productivity and profitability” In General, there are
4 Tech Products Farmers Use to Increase Their Yields Read More »
For sustainable agriculture to meet the rising demand for food in Nigeria, we must observe climate change in agriculture and its effect around us.
Effects Of Climate Change On Agriculture Read More »
Women in Agriculture – Gender inequality is an issue that continues to pervade every echelon of society. Although several efforts have been made to extinguish it, gender inequality still eats deep into every corner of our society. The very fact that out of 195 countries, women head only 22, is one of many statistics that
Women in Agriculture: The untold stories of Growth and Empowerment. Read More »
Careers in agriculture have gone beyond the traditional jobs Nigerian youths believe to be available in the agricultural sector. It isn’t just about the trivial planting of crops and nurturing of animals. Apart from just being a sector that lives up to the sole purpose of consumer satisfaction, it is also a feasible career option
Careers in Agriculture Nigerian Youths Can Explore Read More »
560,000 individuals, predominantly youth and women, will have access to dignified and fulfilling work by 2022, through the Mastercard Foundation Young Africa Works in Nigeria partnership with Babban Gona. Recognizing that employment is a pathway out of poverty, the partnership seeks to empower individuals in the agricultural value chain and support the acceleration of agribusinesses
Farming in Nigeria is one of the most profitable businesses to venture into, agriculture accounts for over 20% of Nigeria’s GDP but just as about 80% of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) fail in Nigeria in their first year, your farm can also fail if you go about it without proper knowledge and the needed
Farming in Nigeria: How to Get Started Read More »
Board Director
Board Director
Michael Jainzik is a Principal Sector Economist in KfW Development Bank. From 2001 to 2011 his work focused on investing and managing equity participation in investment funds and banking institutions, and in agricultural finance and microfinance. From 2011 to 2015 he worked as Director of KfW’s office in Windhoek. In this role he helped to manage and develop KfW’s EUR 250 million portfolio in Namibia. From 2015 to 2017 he assumed the position of Head of Corporate Development in Access Microfinance Holding where he was responsible for structuring and managing a merger process between Access Holding and another corporation.
Prior to his role in Babban Gona, Michael has served as a non-executive director in Access Bank Azerbaijan (2006-2011, Chairman), Belarusian Bank for Small Business (2008-2011), Rural Impulse Fund II Luxemburg (2010-2011) and AB Bank Zambia (2011-2016).
Michael has studied Economics and Management at the Universities of Lüneburg and Witten/Herdecke (Germany) and ETEA – Universidad Loyola in Córdoba (Spain) and holds a Master Degree in Economics and Management.
Board Member
Chairman of the Board
Executive Director
Before joining Babban Gona, Lola was the Director for Trust and Safety at OLX Group, working across 30+ OLX markets to ensure that buyers and sellers can transact safely and securely on the platform. Prior to her global role at OLX, Lola was the Country Manager for OLX in Nigeria where she was responsible for driving all elements of the business including Business Development, Product Localization, Marketing and other relevant functions. OLX Group is one of the world’s leading online classifieds players. Through its brands including OLX, Avito, dubizzle and letgo, OLX Group is the home of online classifieds in high-growth markets.
These platforms are the leading destination for buying and selling used goods and services in 30 countries, and the #1 mobile app in its category in more than 20 markets. Globally ~ 11 million items are exchanged through its platforms every single month.
Prior to joining OLX, Lola spent 4 years at Google leading various Product Partnerships efforts across EMEA and Emerging Markets. Lola was one of the earliest Googlers in Sub-Saharan Africa when the technology company began its operations in the region.
Lola shaped the regional strategy, executed on several core initiatives and led business development efforts with key SSA partners including the telcos, OEMs, digital content providers and local entrepreneurs. Lola brings significant leadership experience in business development, entrepreneurship, operational transformation and product development across several industries including technology and financial services.
In addition to Africa, Lola has substantial international working experience in North America, Europe, and Asia. She also worked in the Chicago office of McKinsey & Company, where she spent time advising senior executives on extensive strategic management topics. Lola holds a Doctorate degree in Engineering from the UniversiAnnual Report 2019/2020 ty of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Virginia. She is happily married with two kids.
Managing Director
Furthermore, he led the development and execution of Notore’s commercial strategy across West and Central Africa, preparing the company to sell one million tons of fertilizer and establish a modern seed business.
He led the effort to raise $130 million in equity and the restructuring of $360 Million in debt. Kola brings significant leadership experience in venture capital, corporate finance, business development, marketing and operations, across four continents with multiple global companies, including GE, Notore and Abiomed. In addition, Kola brings extensive public sector experience as Senior Advisor to the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture.
In recognition for his leadership in driving positive change on the African Continent, he has received several global awards including the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship, a leading leadership institute led by General Collin Powell and appointed to the Board of the African Enterprise Challenge Fund, a $250 Million fund that awards grants and repayable grants to private sector companies to support innovative business ideas in agriculture, agribusiness, renewable energy, adaptation to climate change and access to information and financial services. Kola holds an MBA (Honors) from Harvard and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Prior to Babban Gona, Kola was a Managing Director and CEO of a major subsidiary in the Notore Group, one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural conglomerates, where he raised US$24 Million to develop an integrated agricultural trading, production and processing business.
Furthermore, he led the development and execution of Notore’s commercial strategy across West and Central Africa, preparing the company to sell one million tons of fertilizer and establish a modern seed business.
He led the effort to raise $130 million in equity and the restructuring of $360 Million in debt. Kola brings significant leadership experience in venture capital, corporate finance, business development, marketing and operations, across four continents with multiple global companies, including GE, Notore and Abiomed. In addition, Kola brings extensive public sector experience as Senior Advisor to the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture.
In recognition for his leadership in driving positive change on the African Continent, he has received several global awards including the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship, a leading leadership institute led by General Collin Powell and appointed to the Board of the African Enterprise Challenge Fund, a $250 Million fund that awards grants and repayable grants to private sector companies to support innovative business ideas in agriculture, agribusiness, renewable energy, adaptation to climate change and access to information and financial services. Kola holds an MBA (Honors) from Harvard and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
