Nieuwsbericht11-08-2026 | 09:42

Few would would have imagined that an architect would go on to become one of Nigeria’s most exciting agribusiness innovators. Yet, what began as a personal journey to improve health through the nutritional power of indigenous African vegetables has grown into a business with a clear social mission through her company, ArsoFarms: to provide the freshest, organically grown veggies, combat food insecurity in Nigeria and enhance health and wellbeing.

When we visited the farm in Ikorodu, Lagos, it was easy to see why it left such a strong impression. On six hectares of land, managed by an all-women team, ArsoFarms felt like a food forest, full of crop diversity, life, and a production system that works closely with nature.

Oluwaseun at work on her farm

That journey reached another important milestone when Oluwaseun Obadan, founder of ArsoFarms, was named Agropreneur of the Year 2026 during the annual Dutch trade mission to Nigeria. The Agropreneur of the Year Award celebrates exceptional young agribusiness entrepreneurs who are driving innovation and building more sustainable food systems across Nigeria.

The win came with more than just a title. Beyond the visibility and access to key industry stakeholders that the award unlocks, Oluwaseun and her team were guests of honour at a celebratory dinner hosted by the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands at his residence, together with representatives of the agribusiness sector.

Consul General, Michel Deelen presentation to Oluwaseun

Oluwaseun, from Lagos, Nigeria, stood out among a highly competitive group of finalists and impressed the judging panel with her innovative approach to tackling food loss and waste while promoting healthier food choices.

Now that the dust has settled, we sat down with Oluwaseun to talk about what's changed since the win, what the experience of being crowned has really felt like and where ArsoFarms goes from here.

Oluwaseun, congratulations again on your win! For those that missed it, introduce yourself and tell us about your business. What first drew you into agriculture, and why this particular part of the value chain? Was there a moment when you seriously questioned continuing? What kept you going?

Thank you! And what an honour it continues to be.

We are a nutrition-focused agribusiness. We partner with smallholder farmers to produce chemical-free, organically grown greens and transform them into nutritious veggie powder mixes, beverages, and prepped vegetables making it more convenient for people to meet their daily nutrition goals.

My entry into agriculture was deeply personal. I had a firsthand health experience that showed me, without question, that food can be medicine. That conviction never left me. Alongside that, as a young Nigerian, I was deeply troubled by the scale of post-harvest loss happening at the farmer and offtaker level, produce rotting before it ever reached a plate. Both experiences drove me toward wanting to be part of the solution to food security in Nigeria and across Africa.

A tour of Arso Farms

As for questioning whether to continue, absolutely! Many times. And I want to be honest about that because I think it matters. This is coming from a trained Architect who is accustomed to outdoor monitoring and building projects, but agricultural business is an entirely different world. There were moments I wanted to run very far from it. What kept me going was the conviction that this work is necessary and that someone has to do it with integrity. That conviction has always been louder than the doubt.

What does winning this award mean to you? And what are you most proud of in your work?

Winning this award validates five years of work that has often happened quietly and without fanfare. It has been a rigorous process of iteration, market listening, and strategic pivoting and this recognition is a timely and deeply needed encouragement.

What I am most proud of is the innovation we are building around our shelf-stable products (our Hibiscus Tea variants and Green Life Vegetable Mix Powders). I believe Africa must accelerate its production capacity and move away from being a largely consuming continent. We are growing, processing, and packaging products that belong on global shelves, made entirely from indigenous African ingredients.

All-women team at Arso Farms

Winning this award means the light shines more brightly on what we do. It means broader reach for the partnerships and collaborations we are building. And perhaps most importantly, it means we can encourage the next generation, younger Nigerians and my peers, toward agriculture as a serious, dignified, and innovative career path, and that is necessary and timely now than ever before.

How did you find the Agropreneur Award Ceremony? Were you shocked when you were announced as the winner?

Pleasantly surprised and genuinely joyous, and that is the most honest way I can describe it. There is something powerful about seeing the work you have quietly poured yourself into for years being amplified on a large screen in a room full of people. We have done so much in quietness, the sustainable farming, the economic development work with our smallholder women farmers, the product innovation and to have all of that brought into the light in that moment was truly special.

What are your ambitions for Arso Farms, and where would you like to see the business go in the future?

Our five-year mission is to grow people, purpose, and prosperity, from Nigeria, to Africa, and beyond.

By 2030, we are working toward having over 500 farmers under our supply and training network, 250 business-to-business partnerships, five products fully established in the market, and over 500,000 lives reached through our products and initiatives. We are also firmly on the path to becoming a million-dollar revenue company. The beautiful thing is we are already on that journey. So, 2030, here we come.

Packaged vegetables from Arso farms

What would you say to any aspiring young Agropreneur?

I would say this; the fact that Nigeria is still a developing nation means there are gaps everywhere, and many problems still waiting to be solved, especially in agriculture. So do your due diligence. Do not always follow the crowd, because sometimes the gold is in the part that looks boring to everyone else. Creating value from our own resources and raw materials is the way forward and the prospects are vast. Do not limit yourself. Explore adequately. And be scientific in your approach because agriculture rewards those who combine passion with precision.

Oluwaseun, thank you so much for taking the time to speak to us, good luck with everything, and we shall catch up with you again so check on your progress.

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