The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC) have awarded 16,000 dollars to four innovators to promote consumption of safe and nutritious foods.
The Country Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Mr Michael Ojo, said the initiative was aimed at transforming the food systems in the country.
Ojo, in a statement by Victor Ekeleme, Senior Associate, Communications, GAIN, on Sunday in Lagos, noted that the project signifies the successful conclusion of the Agribusiness Innovation Challenge.
He said that the challenge was implemented under the Business Support workstream of the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNIPS) project.
“The SNIPS project was designed to improve the production, commercialisation, and consumption of safe and nutritious foods in Nigeria.
“In order to holistically address challenges across the supply chain for nutritious foods, and to ensure a healthier journey of these foods from farm to fork, GAIN sought innovative solutions through the Agribusiness Innovation Challenge.
“This effort paves the way for a more sustainable and resilient food system,” he said.
According to him, the agriculture sector account for over a quarter of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), however, faces multifaceted challenges ranging from infrastructure gaps to post-harvest losses.
Ojo said that the Agribusiness Innovation Challenge was a rallying call to youth-led agri-tech start-ups to harness their creativity and expertise in developing digital and hardware supply chain innovations.
He noted that throughout the challenge, the youth-led startups underwent rigorous technical assistance training, solution validation, and financial access enhancement.
“The culmination of the Agribusiness Innovation Challenge was the highly anticipated Demo Day, where finalists vied for the prestigious title and a total prize money of N12 million ($16,000).
“The four winners, whose innovations demonstrated exceptional promise, will receive ongoing support from GAIN to replicate their solutions in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, and Oyo states, further impacting local communities,” he said.
Ojo said the winners were Chukwudalu Ufondu of Kovworks, who introduced an automatic and mobile “Cassava Peeling and Washing Machine”, adding that the product represents a step towards more efficient and sustainable cassava processing.
He explianed that the innovation would significantly reduce the waste in the cassava value chain, a critical issue where over 50 per cent of waste is typically experienced from farm to market.
Also, Annat Shittu, from Farmatago, developed “SALOCOOL,” a product that serves a dual purpose as a display chiller and an innovative food preservation solution.
Similarly, Ifeoluwa Olatayo, Soupah Farm-en-Market Ltd., focuses on bridging the gap between farmers and consumers.
Also, Stephen Sunday of Gonana, a web3 commodity marketplace, provides crucial market access for traders dealing in nutritious commodities like vitamin-rich maize and grains, bypassing traditional middlemen.
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GAIN, a Swiss based foundation, was launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human sufferings caused by malnutrition.
NCIC was set up by the World Bank and supported by the Federal Government to develop and deploy solutions to climate change challenges in Nigeria.
This is by providing venture development, capacity building, market access and funding to viable green businesses. (NAN)
