Nigerian Female Agripreneurs to Win $300,000 in Prestigious WAYA Awards

Nigerian female agripreneurs have a unique opportunity to win grants of up to $300,000 in the prestigious Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) for 2024.

The awards, which recognize female agripreneurs who demonstrate innovation and business excellence in agricultural value chains, are now open for applications until May 31, 2024.

The WAYA awards, which have been distributed across three categories since 2021, now include regional winners in the Young Female Agripreneurs category and two new categories: Women Empowerment Champion and Resilient & Inspirational Leader.

The event, held in honor of trailblazing women who are at the forefront of inclusive agricultural transformation, brought together women in agribusiness and influential leaders at various policy levels to amplify messaging on the urgency of investing in women to accelerate progress in the agri-food sector.

AGRA’s lead for Gender Integration and acting director for the Youth, Gender, and Inclusiveness Division, Ms. Winnie Osulah, emphasized the importance of the awards in recognizing the relentless efforts, creative ideas, and outstanding leadership by women in the agri-food sector.

She also highlighted the significance of creating an enabling environment for women to fully participate in economic, social, and political spheres.

The awards are an initiative of AGRA’s VALUE4HER, a continental program that aims to strengthen women’s agribusiness enterprises and enhance their voice and advocacy across Africa.

The winners of the 2024 Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards will be unveiled during the Africa Food Systems Forum (formerly AGRF) to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from September 2 to 6, 2024.

The WAYA awards provide a platform for Nigerian female agripreneurs to showcase their innovative and impactful work in the agricultural sector, while also promoting gender equality and inclusivity in agribusiness.