Olumide Ogunbanjo
Agroecologist // CEO @ AgroData NG
Olumide Ogunbanjo studied Sustainable Agriculture at Coventry University and graduated in 2008. Since graduating they have been working in the sustainable agriculture sector, and in May 2017, founded the multi award winning agritech statrtup AGRODATA. Of their time at Coventry University they said; "I secured an Ogun State Human Capital Development (HUCAP) scholarship to study at Coventry University in 2005/2006, this is one of the best things that ever happened to me in life. Our agent per-selected Coventry University for those of us in Agriculture & Natural Resources based on the school pedigree in Environmental sustainability and Natural Resources Management. I enrolled in a Master by Research programme in Sustainable Agriculture under the renowned Professor Phil Harris ( Now Emeritus ). I was able to defined my research work and context, since its not a taught MSc. I dedicated my study to the expected roles and impact of innovation in farming systems in Africa, with peculiarity to Nigeria. The school sponsored my field trip to Nigeria in 2006 and I visited 75% of the agricultural research Institute in the Country. I returned to complete an outstanding and award winning thesis and some of my recommendations were adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture of Ogun State, Nigeria. I was employed and appointed to implement these ideas and I rose to the position of PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL OFFICER at the department of Agricultural Services, Asero, Abeokuta , Ogun State. In 2011, based on the success of the projects and social impact I was recommended for a World Bank Fellowship. I proceeded to the Faculty of Geo-Information Science of the University of Twente, Netherlands , where I bagged an advanced degree in Geo-Information Science for Natural Resources Management. I returned to Nigeria in 2014, consulted for several agencies in the agricultural value chain and in May 2017, I founded the multi award winning agritech statrtup AGRODATA. Coventry University gave me the spring board and empowered me to structure my vision. I was the vice president of the business & enterprise club and I won the bright idea competition in 2007. Since graduating I have; 1. Appointment as Agricultural Officer OGSG Ministry of Agriculture 2. Promotion to the rank of Prinicpal Agricultural Officer with an outstanding track record of success 3. World Bank Fellowship for advanced study 4. Creation of AgroData ( an agrictech startup buisness) 5. Won the grand startupper for Africa (2019) - Total Hq, France 6. Won the startupper of the year (2019) - Total Nigeria 7. Selected as one of the Top 18 social enterprise in Africa by Santa Clara University's miller centre ( GSBI cohort 2020) amongs several local accelerator programmes such as SCALEUP LAB 2020 (FateFoundation) and OXFAM WiP 2020 ( EDC, Pan African University) Coventry University gave me a leverage with the unique teaching and research methods, ability for international collaboration and more importantly the support for business and entrepreneurship."
Lifetime Achievement