My name is Babatunde Hakeem Lawal popularly known as BHL
I am a trained Agricultural Economist and Extension Service Provider by profession
I am an entrepreneur, investor and coach to over 1000 aspiring and existing businesses across Africa.
I love innovations, hardwork and research.. I believe that it is only Africans that can make Africa greatSo, there is no need to "export" ourselves out of the continent but develop what is jointly ours
Thank you
In the real sense... I love innovations like I said...
I believe that if you are not ten times better than your existing competitors..then there is no need to exist!
We don't just need numbers..we need value..
I started business at the age of nine
Selling female scarves that was so very unique at the time
I made some money then..but due to my academics..I had to pass it on to my mum...who continued to make more money
I am not an engineer.. But I research a lot about new technologies, raise funds for them and propagate the market.
My real intention is to develop crazy solutions for the pertinent economic problems affecting the African populace
So I do this via several streams..
Such as innovative agroporcesing.. Advisory services and coaching
Some of my businesses include a mechanised garri processing plant.. A mobile cassava processing plant.. And I also have some investments in digital technology companies that are breaking barriers
We are always working to keep coming up with better technologies by the day
The garri market in Nigeria is worth over 2bn dollars
We are yet to talk about the international market
You would now need to wonder why garri processors are poor
Lack of technology..
Our farmers are poor due to lack of appropriate technologies
Ok
Our factory is perpetually under the state of development
We are always working on our technology to ensure we are operating at optimal efficiency and not left behind the industry..
We are currently working on a huge solution that would radically transform the way we source and process cassava across Nigeria
One thing here is,
Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava
We produce over 40million MT every year
But that is not showing in the lives of our farmers
Our farmers are poor, hungry and really need help
But this help should not come in form of donations
But in form of transformational approach via the use of technology and innovative business models
We are working to link smallholder cassava farmers to the market and provide them innovative extension services that would enable them double their yield and grow their incomes
Thanks
In the next 3-5years, by the grace of God, we should have linked over 3000 farmers to guaranteed highly profitable markets
That is based on our cassava processing technology
And generally in my investments, by the grace of God, we should be able to launch five great tech companies that would help to transform the industries we serve
Thanks
Well, in 2017 when I was with the Vice President along with some Ministers of the federation..this same question was asked. And my response was and still holds: We need to be truly committed to creating an enabling environment for small businesses to thrive in Nigeria.
Only businesses can create jobs
Government is not built to create jobs..but to manage the environment to support businesses to provide quality, stable jobs...
So, we should demand our leaders to create policies and laws that encourage investments, starting and growing businesses
Only Nigerians can make Nigeria great
Its called AFRICAPITALISM TOE Way thanks for this professorial teaching, u are a genius
thank you for believing in us when we were nothing...
Let them look around...
What can they see????
Food scarcity!
Agriculture is beyond hoe and cutlass We have agtechs
I currently have two agtechs in incubation
Aside my cassava processing company
All over the world, there are billions of dollars going into agriculture... If you think agriculture is dirty then you must be living in the 90s
Yes. I am open to strategic partners Thank you. I also have an edutech startup too
Thanks for your time