Two young agripreneurs from Nigeria and Uganda have each won US$50,000 after being named as the grand prize winners of the GoGettaz agripreneur Prize 2026competition.
The awards were presented at the closing ceremony of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF 2026) held in Kigali, where 12 young entrepreneurs from different African countries showcased projects aimed at solving challenges in the continent’s food and agriculture systems.
Israel Smart Obidah, founder of Smartel Agri-tech in Nigeria, and Nabakka Sandra, co-founder of Sandi AI Technologies in Uganda, were selected as the grand prize winners after a competition among young entrepreneurs selected from different countries.
Obidah’s Smartel Agri-tech project uses a Farm-in-a-Box system that combines hydroponics, Internet of Things (IoT) technology for agricultural monitoring, and AI for crop monitoring.
The system aims to enable year-round farming, while using up to 90% less water and reducing the cost of farm inputs by up to 70%. Since it began commercial operations in 2024, the company has deployed over 7,000systems.
In Uganda, Sandra’s Sandi AI Technologies is combining artificial intelligence (AI) with rural savings groups to help farmers access solar-powered irrigation without the need for collateral or traditional loans.
The company’s website has reached 10,000 groups, representing over 301,000 people, and has helped secure over US$4 million worth of agricultural and irrigation technology.
Winners were judged on five criteria: innovation, market potential and project development, social and environmental impact, business performance, and the project and team they lead.
Four awards for projects that help solve food and environmental problems
Four other entrepreneurs received Impact Awards for their projects that solve various problems in Africa’s food and agriculture systems.
- Jolis Nduwimana (Wege Company, Burundi): She makes packaging materials from banana and rice waste, which can be reused and recycled. The company serves over 10,000 customers each month and works with over 15,200 farmers to provide them with raw materials.
- Josiane Mujawayezu (Amazing Insect Ltd, Rwanda): Converts biodegradable waste into organic fertilizer and insect-based animal feed. The company serves over 5,000 customers and works with 96 agricultural cooperatives in Rwanda.
- Baba Djibo (Djibo Services, Mali): Developed a technology that uses bio-fertilizers to speed up the conversion of biodegradable waste into compost in 10 days, compared to the traditional 45 to 90 days.
- Olivia Okinyi (Econasi Limited, Kenya): Converts pineapple crop residues into plant-based leather and environmentally friendly packaging materials. The project works with 500 smallholder farmers and claims that its approach can increase farmers' income by up to 40%.
Six more awarded Catalytic Awards
Six more of the 12 competing entrepreneurs were awarded GoGettaz Catalytic Awards, in recognition of their projects that contribute to the development and transformation of food and agriculture systems in Africa.
They are Nancy Githumbi of Sincy Group Holdings in Kenya, Chaimae Sqalli Adoui of Foodeals in Morocco, Tariku Denekew of ZTN PLC in Ethiopia, Godfrey Noel of Kilimora in Kenya, Daouda Faye of B2C Agribusiness in Senegal, and Uche Kenneth of Smokeless Briqs Energy Solutions in Nigeria.
Their projects work in a variety of sectors including access to finance and markets for farmers, reducing food waste, smart irrigation, climate finance, smart agricultural services and clean energy for cooking.
Youth in transforming Africa’s food systems
Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, said that young entrepreneurs will play a key role in transforming Africa’s food systems.
“Transforming Africa’s food systems will be based on businesses that can solve real problems at scale.”
Ruhweza said the next priority is to help promising projects grow to scale, and that this requires capital, strong markets, partnerships and a system that makes it easier for young people to start and develop their projects.
The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize is organized by Generation Africa, the youth arm of AGRA. For young professionals who participate in the competition, the opportunities offered go beyond financial support; they also receive mentorship, networking and exposure opportunities, as well as meeting investors, decision-makers and other leaders who are involved in the development of the food system in Africa.
Written by Jean Bernard MUKUNDENTE