By James Paul
Highlighting the inspiring journey of Emem Aniekanabasi, a young entrepreneur who has made significant strides in agriculture and environmental activism. It aims to motivate Nigerian youth to pursue agricultural entrepreneurship and engage in climate action. However, it is appreciated that two problems confront youths contemplating a career as agri-preneurs: What type of agricultural business to start? How to raise capital to start an agricultural business? To realistically capitalise on an initial interest and enthusiasm for agriculture, potential entrepreneurs are urged to start small with simple and straightforward projects capable of producing cash rewards in the short-term. Buying, storing and distributing agricultural produce, mini-livestock farming (e.g., raising snails, rabbits, etc.) and vegetable gardening are good examples of agricultural businesses to start with; these businesses take up little space and/or require little capital but can yield significant revenue quickly.
Regarding raising initial capital, there are several government and UN grants opportunities open to youth to access. Indeed, it is said that the issue about raising capital is lack of awareness about where and how to raise it. Furthermore, aspiring agri-preneurs will do well to explore training and apprentice opportunities offered by some of the profiled successful agri-preneurs before launching their ventures. Thereafter, they would be in a confident position to raise capital for their agricultural businesses. It should be noted that the profiled agri-preneurs did not always succeed without problems; they had challenges. For example, Emem experienced initial financial drawbacks during the first five years of her outing and also failed to secure paid employment as a graduate. The going is not always easy, but as the saying goes “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going”.
Emem Aniekanabasi Alban is an agro-entrepreneur doing business as Emani farms Giant ltd, a farming outfit that also markets livestock feed freshly processed in Nigeria to some European countries. Emem holds a degree in brewing science and technology and M.sc in crop science from university of Uyo.
Her journey has not been all smooth.During the first five years of her outing, she experienced financial drawbacks. Today, the story is different; she is very successful. As a result, she is determined to show young people that farming can be glamorous and good fortune for them. Emem speaks before secondary school students and undergraduates wearing the most glamorous attire associated more with the higher echelons of urban society, declaring “I am a farmer” proudly, intriguing the audience as farmers are usually not associated with such an opulent appearance.
Her appearance and the fluency and poignancy with which she delivers her speeches converts the audience into farming enthusiasts who then sign-in to the farmers’ clubs, she sets up, to participate in mini-livestock farming and vegetable gardening. Emem then takes students to her farm and combines them with a broader group of aspiring young agribusiness entrepreneurs, who have approached her for advice on different aspects of their budding agribusiness. Those with their own agribusinesses learn modern skills and ideas to incorporate into their endeavour, while the secondary school and university students begin to realize that farming does not have to look like their antiquated ideas. Emem has leveraged her initial publicity to engage schools and government to shift their thinking
In 2016, Emem founded a training program known as Agricbiz training, a social enterprise incubator that aims to create the next generation of Agricultural Entrepreneurs in Nigeria. She is regarded as the 5th largest private exporter of livestock feed in Akwa ibom and one of the largest private-sector exports of Agriculture products in Nigeria.
In 2017, Emem Aniekanabasi witnessed the adverse effects of environmental degradation on her community—from water shortages to declining agricultural productivity. Determined to make a difference, she developed a business model focused on creating sustainable, community-driven solutions that restore the environment while uplifting local livelihoods.
By using local resources and sustainable practices, Emem addresses critical environmental issues while contributing to her community’s socio-economic growth. Her green solutions not only combat environmental challenges but also bring tangible benefits to the people around her. Motivated by his experiences, Emem sought to develop a renewable energy solution for his community.
In 2018, Emem entrepreneurial path began when she recognized the need for a solution addressing both hygiene and environmental concerns. This led to the creation of Ememco—an eco-friendly toilet designed to conserve water, reduce waste, and offer a hygienic solution for communities
Overall, Emem Aniekanabasi’s story serves as a powerful testament to the potential of agriculture as a path to success and the importance of environmental stewardship, inspiring young people to reimagine farming and contribute positively to their communities.