One of the main food and industrial crops growing on every continent is the soybean. With minimal agricultural input, the crop can be effectively cultivated in various states of Nigeria. This is due to its resistance to weather, diseases, and pests.. It also requires lower use of fertilizers, making it an excellent rotational crop with corn, […]
13 Fascinating Facts About Soybeans Read More »
Our Managing Director; Kola Masha, was live on CBNC on October 31, 2022, to discuss the tax breaks Nigeria moves to offer her agricultural sector.
According to available data provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria, about 63.2% of Nigerian adults have access to financial services. This number is even lower for Nigerians living in rural areas, which include smallholder farmers. It has been estimated that about 78% of smallholder farmers in Nigeria do not have access to financial services.
Video: Improving Smallholder Farmers Access to Financial Services Read More »
Our smallholder farmer members, Babbangida Hamisu, 32 years old and Markus Ibrahim, 29 years old, from Ikara Local Government, Kaduna State, Nigeria, share their thoughts with us during a visit to their respective farms in the ongoing 2022 planting season. Hamisu and Ibrahim spoke about the impact of Babban Gona’s modern farming and climate-friendly training
Citibank Nigeria Limited has extended N4bn ($10m) financing to Babban Gona Farmer Services Nigeria Limited to support input credit and harvest advances to smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria. This transaction will enable 41,000 smallholder farmers to increase their farming income by 350 per cent/hectare, thus contributing to more economic opportunities in fragile communities. A statement
Citibank Partners Babban Gona to Provide Support Over 40,000 Smallholder Farmers Read More »
Food insecurity in Nigeria – Smallholder farmers drive food production in Nigeria and more than 80% of farmers in Nigeria are smallholder farmers. They are responsible for 90% of the agricultural produce in the country. Smallholder farmers in Nigeria are primarily located in the rural areas of the country. About 70% of people living in
How Insecurity May Lead to Food Insecurity in Nigeria Read More »
With more than 80% of Nigerian farmers being smallholder farmers, smallholder farmers in Nigeria are the heart of food production in Nigeria. We will be looking at uncommon facts about this unique group of farmers who hardly get little or no credit for their contribution to the agricultural sector and the Nigerian economy at large.
Uncommon Facts About Smallholder Farmers in Nigeria Read More »
Rural businesses, which are so vital for transforming our food systems, will get a much needed boost from an ambitious new financing programme launched today by the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), as part of its broader efforts to address rising hunger and poverty levels in the world’s poorest countries. The Private Sector Financing Programme
Board Director
Board Director
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.
