By Ebunoluwa Sessou
With her 50-hectare farm in Kakun, Kogi State, Mrs. Folashade Ayeni has emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading agripreneurs and advocates for food security. As the Chief Executive Officer of Babaeko Farms, she has dedicated years to combating hunger and poverty through large-scale oil palm cultivation and community-based agricultural development.
Beyond her farming enterprise, Ayeni recently assumed leadership as Chairman of the Durotoluwa Multipurpose Cooperative Society in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, where she is helping smallholder farmers gain access to resources, markets, and opportunities for growth. In this interview, she speaks about her journey, the role of oil palm in addressing food insecurity, lessons from Zambia, and the future of agriculture in Nigeria. Excerpts:
What inspired your commitment to agriculture and food security?
My passion for agriculture comes from a desire to fight hunger and poverty in Nigeria. Despite the challenges facing the agricultural sector, I remain committed to contributing to food security. Agriculture has the power to transform communities, create jobs, and improve livelihoods. For me, farming is not just a business; it is a mission to ensure that more Nigerians have access to food and economic opportunities.
