2024 Awarding Body
Henrietta O. Amissah
Henrietta Opokua Amissah is a highly talented agribusiness professional with a proven history of
entrepreneurial competency and implementation of corporate strategy. Currently leading the team at
Cocoa Inputs Ltd, an agrichemical trading company as the Managing Director where she is spear- heading
the restructuring of the organisation and providing strategic leadership to address inefficiencies to aid the
business flourish again. A highly effective communicator with strong leadership skills, she has over 22
years of work experience spanning from agribusiness, international trade, consultancy, collateral
management and general logistics.
Henrietta’s employment history spans from managing her own agribusiness in the poultry value chain
Sokoni Ltd as CEO, Business Development Manager at UT Logistics Ltd, Managing Partner at FeedTime
Ventures and at the British High Commission as Trade & Investment Officer.
Passionate about agriculture & youth empowerment, she is championing the course of mentoring young
agriculture students in the universities, to expose them to the many opportunities within the agricultural
ecosystem through her program dubbed “AgriTalk Series”.
Henrietta O. Amissah
Henrietta Opokua Amissah is a highly talented agribusiness professional with...
Oluwafunmilola S.
Oluwafunmilola Shelika is a dynamic professional with a proven track record of leadership and strategic vision. With a background in Marketing, Banking, Advertising, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, she brings extensive experience in leadership and teamwork. Her commitment to excellence and her ability to foster collaboration make her a valuable asset in any boardroom setting.
Leadership Roles:
1. CEO, Gef’s Smoked Edibles (2011-Present): She Led the company through periods of significant growth and
transformation, overseeing strategic initiatives, and fostering innovation.
2. Board Member, African Women Fish Processors and Traders network (Continental Bureau) (2023-present): Funmilola strategic direction and oversight for the NGO initiatives, focusing on community development and empowerment.
3. Chairperson, African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET Nigeria Chapter) (2017-2024):
Spearheaded efforts to advocate for industry interests, promote best practices, and foster collaboration among
stakeholders.
4. Team Leader, NNEW Teenpreneurship (2016-2019): Directed a cross-functional team to achieve project milestones and deliver results within budget and schedule constraints.
Oluwafunmilola Shelika’s combination of leadership experience and diverse skill sets makes her well-suited for a board member role, where she can contribute strategic insights and help guide the organization toward achieving its goals
Oluwafunmilola S.
Oluwafunmilola Shelika is a dynamic professional with a proven track...
Tyrone Havnar
Tyrone Havnar is a distinguished advocate and multi-disciplinary researcher in Zimbabwe, focusing on critical areas impacting communities such as technology, health, and social development. As the founder of “I Reach Out My Hand Africa in 2009,” he is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged populations through innovative research and practical solutions.
His research emphasizes transparency, good governance, and youth engagement. His notable work includes the “Transparency and Good Governance” online mentorship initiative, educating young people on ethical leadership across the globe.
He also nvestigates the digital divide in rural areas, advocating for policies that enhance technological accessibility. His efforts have improved digital resource access, facilitating educational and economic opportunities.
Tyrone promotes organic farming to address health issues caused by chemical-laden agricultural products. His initiatives provide healthier food options and create sustainable livelihoods. The House of Tyrone fashion brand supports health initiatives like 2017 when he aided children undergoing chemotherapy through a fundraiser.
Through social and economic development, he implements programs alleviating poverty and promoting rural development. His work includes organic farming, climate change initiatives, women’s community gardens, and youth mentorship, fostering entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.
Adv Havnar advocates for human rights through Youth for Human Rights International, educating young people about their rights. His work with the African Youth Network promotes shared learning and collaboration among young leaders across the continent.
Tyrone’s multi-disciplinary approach and dedication to community empowerment have earned him recognition as a humanitarian and social change-maker. His efforts have been featured in various platforms, including Kubatana, The Chronicles, H-Metro, and Zimbabwe Television. He has received an award for his contributions to social work, driving impactful change across different sectors and improving the lives of many in Zimbabwe and beyond since 2009
Tyrone Havnar
Tyrone Havnar is a distinguished advocate and multi-disciplinary researcher in...
Andrew Egala
Mr. Andrew Egala, Agri-foods systems innovation and Incubation management, Value chain and
MSME development Expert , Processor of Gluten free, Organic, Nutri-dense products climate smart
resilient value chains under Mugala Naturals –Brand name. Community of Practice (COP) on Africa
forgotten and Underutilized foods.
Scaling Up Nutrition Movement – Kenya Chapter- National Secretary.
National Agri-nutrition- MOLD /FAO – food and Nutrition Linkage technical working group
(FNLTWG) member
FAO Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum) community.
C.E.O Green Without Borders-a private sector high social impact enterprise, a member and mentor
Netherlands Business Hub Kenya.
Panel expert-drafting Continental Programme for Women and youth Entrepreneurs, Africa Union-Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals.
Panel Agribusiness Expert –United States International University-Africa (USIU-A)-Kenya -Global
Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship (GAME) Center.
Non-state actor Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP
Andrew Egala
Mr. Andrew Egala, Agri-foods systems innovation and Incubation management, Value...
KAREN AMISSAH-OCRAN (MS)
KAREN AMISSAH-OCRAN (MS)
Immediate past Deputy Executive Director In charge of operations for...
Lynda Banja
Lynda Banja
Lynda Banja is a lawyer, social-entrepreneur, global mentor, an accomplished...
Samirah Faruk
Samirah Faruk is a social entrepreneur, business executive and change...
Prof. Ojijo, Nelson Kennedy Olang’o
| Current Title | Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya. |
| Previous positions | 1. Executive Director, Access Agriculture (2017 – 2018)
2. Lead Specialist, Capacity Development, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) (2014 – 2016) 3. Regional Advocacy Coordinator, Building Nutritious Food Baskets (BNFB), a nutrition-sensitive agricultural project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMFG) and jointly implemented by FARA, CIP, CIAT, CIMMYT, HarvestPlus, and IITA in Nigeria and Tanzania. 2015 – 2016 4. Program Officer, Capacity Development, FARA, 2009 – 2014. 5. Associate Professor, JKUAT, 2007 – To date 6. Founding Director, Directorate of Performance Contracting and Appraisal (DiPCA), JKUAT (2008 – 2009) 7. UNESCO Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, The Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (2002 – 2004) 8. Senior Lecturer, JKUAT (2002 – 2007) 9. Visiting Lecturer, Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Namibia (UNAM), Namibia, from June – August 2002. 10. Lecturer, JKUAT (1995 – 2002) 11. Research Officer I, Coffee Research Foundation, Ruiru, Kenya (1991 – 1994) 12. Graduate Research Assistant, University of Nairobi, Kenya (1987 – 1988) |
| Qualifications | 1. BSc (Hons), Agriculture (Food Science and Technology), University of Nairobi, Kenya, 1987 (Best graduating student in the Class 1987)
2. MSc, Agriculture (Food Technology), University of Nairobi, Kenya,1992 3. PhD, Agricultural Science (Food Process Engineering), University of Tsukuba, Japan, 2000 4. Certificate, Corporate Governance and Leadership Training, by the Center for Corporate Governance (Kenya), Feb 12 – 14, 2014, at IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria. 5. Certificate, Organizational Analysis, Stanford University, Via Coursera, May – July 2014. 6. Certificate, Champions for Change Leadership Training Course (Scaling up for Food Security in Africa through CAADP Implementation) held from 28th February to 4th March 2011, at GIMPA, Accra, Ghana. Facilitated by USAID and Africa LEAD. 7. Certificate, Performance Management, conducted by the Public Sector Reforms & Performance Contracting, Office of the Prime Minister, Government of Kenya, from 19th to 21st March 2009. |
| Teaching areas of interest | Food Process Engineering, Food Packaging Technology, Sensory Evaluation of Foods, Physical Properties of Foods, New Food Product Development, Food Standards and Legislation |
| Research areas of interest | 1. Upgrading of silver cyprinid (Rastrineobola argenta) fish value chain through improved postharvest processing and value addition.
2. Food texture and rheology – especially organogel, oleogel, microgel, and nanogel structuring of foods for improved functionality, safety and stability. 3. Biofuel technology 4. Value-added processing of African leafy vegetables and fruits 5. Nutrition—sensitive agriculture; biofortification 6. Structuring foods for gut health; functional foods 7. Design and evaluation of food processing technologies 8. Food metabolomics 9. Circular economy in food processing |
| Professional affiliations | 1. Professional member, Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (ANH) Academy, 2020
2. Professional member, International Society of Food Engineering (ISFE), 2009 – current. (Member No. 001188) 3. Professional member, Institute of Food Technologists (IFT, USA), 2001 – 2002 (lapsed due to non-payment of annual fees) 4. Student member, Institute of Food Technologists (IFT, USA), 1997 – 2000 5. Professional member, Kenya Institute of Food Science and Technology (KIFST). |
| Other appointments | 1. External Examiner, Technical University of Mombasa, School of Applied & Health Sciences, Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Kenya. 2024 –
2. Judge, ILRI CapDev Grand Challenge 2020/21 3. Steering Committee Member, Tropical Agriculture Platform, FAO, 2016 4. Steering Committee Member, Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA), African Union Commission (AUC), 2014 – 2016. 5. Steering Committee Member, ProEcoOrganic Agriculture Project, FiBL, Switzerland, 2014 – 2016 6. Advisory Committee Member, N2Africa Project, Wageningen University, 2014 – 2016. 7. Member, Ph.D. Pre-selection Committee, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarships for Kenyan Students. 2004 – 2009. |
| Selected publications | 1. Ojijo, N. K. O., Rono, E., Oduor-Odote, M., Kanali, C., Njuguna, S., Kituu, G., and Mung’atu, J. (2024). A baseline study on the value addition and marketing of silver cyprinid (Rastrineobola argentea) fish in Kenya. Submitted to the Journal of Stored Products and Postharvest Research, Manuscript Number: JSPPR/19.05.24/0342.
2. FAO (2024). Integrating Africa’s forgotten foods for better nutrition – A companion publication for the Compendium of forgotten foods. Accra. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc9659en. Authors: Fatunbi, W., Ojijo, N. K., Sukati, M., Kombat, R., Agumya, A., and Akinbamijo, Y. 3. FAO (2024). Compendium of forgotten foods in Africa – A companion publication for Integrating Africa’s forgotten foods for better nutrition. Accra. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc5044en. Authors: Fatunbi, W., Ojijo, N. K., Sukati, M., Kombat, R., Agumya, A., and Akinbamijo, Y. 4. Dinga, L. A. and Ojijo, N. K. O. (2021). Assessment of Household Food Security Situation during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Kenya. Journal of Food Security, 9(3), 94-100. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-9-3-1. 5. Akinbamijo, Y., Annor-Frempong, I., Agumya, A. and Ojijo, N. K. O. 2018. Situating the grain legume agenda in African agricultural research for development strategies. FARA Research Report, Volume 2 (2): 16 – 31. 6. Ojijo, N. K. O., Franzel, S., Simtowe, F., Madakadze, R., Nkwake, A. and Moleko, L. (2016). 2016. The Roles of Agricultural Research Systems, Advisory Services, Capacity Development, and Knowledge Transfer. In, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), ed, Africa Agriculture Status Report, 2016: Progress Towards Agricultural Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa. AGRA, Nairobi, Kenya. Pages 199 – 230. 7. Haggblade, S., Duodu, K. G., Kabasa, J. D., Minnaar, A., Ojijo, N. K. O. and Taylor, J. R. N. 2016. Emerging Early Actions to Bend the Curve in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Nutrition Transition. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 37 (2), 219-241. 8. Mukabane, B. G., Thiongo, G., Gathitu, B., Murage, H., Ojijo, N. K. O. and Owino, W. O. 2014. Evaluating the Potential of Juice from Some Sweet Sorghum Varieties Grown in Kenya to Crystallize. Food Science and Quality Management, Vol. 30: 31 – 39. 9. Owino, W. O., Mouti, M. E., Sila, D. N., Mwasaru, M., Thiong’o, G., Murage, H. and Ojijo, N. K. O. 2013. Physico-chemical properties and antioxidant potential of syrup prepared from ‘Madhura’ sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) cultivar grown at different locations in Kenya. Sugar Tech, 15(3):263 – 270. 10. Ojijo, N. K. O., Jakinda, D. O., and Annor-Frempong, I. 2013. Assessment of Current Capacities and Needs for Institutional and Individual Capacity Development in Agricultural Innovation Systems: Regional Synthesis Report for Africa. FAO/Tropical Agriculture Platform. Available online at: https://bit.ly/3jeGoWc. 11. Mibei, E. K. and Ojijo, N. K. O. 2012. Phytochemical screening and anti-microbial activity of four indigenous vegetables commonly consumed in Kenya. International Journal of Applied Biology and Pharmaceutical Technology, Vol. 3, ISSN 0976-4550. 12. Mibei, E. K., Ojijo, N. K. O., Karanja, S. M. and Kinyua, J. K. 2011. Compositional attributes of the leaves of some indigenous African leafy vegetables commonly consumed in Kenya. Annals of Food Science & Technology, Vol. 12 (2): 146 – 154. 13. Mibei, E. K. and Ojijo, N. K. O. 2011 Effects of processing on chemical composition of four African leafy vegetables. Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 10 (11): 3121 – 3131. 14. Fedha, M. S., Mwasaru, M. A., Njoroge, C. K., Ojijo, N. K. O. and Ouma, G. O. 2010. Effect of drying on selected proximate composition of fresh and processed fruits and seeds of two pumpkin species. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America, 1(6):1299 – 1302. 15. Ojijo, N. K. O. 2009. Technological and functional perspectives on African fermented thin porridges – A mini-review. Journal of Agriculture, Science & Technology, Vol. 11(1): 63 – 84. 16. Ojijo, N. K. O. and Shimoni, E. 2008. Minimization of cassava paste flow properties using the ‘Farris effect’. Lebensmittel Wissenschaft und Technologie, 41: 51 – 57. 17. Ojijo, N. K. O. and Shimoni, E. 2007. Influence of xanthan gum and tapioca starch on the retrogradation and gelation of finger millet (Eleucine coracana (L.) Gaertner) starch pastes. Journal of Texture Studies, Vol. 38: 100 – 115. 18. Ojijo, N. K. O., Neeman, I., Eger, I. and Shimoni, E. 2004. Effects of monoglyceride content, cooling rate, and shear on the rheological properties of olive oil/monoglyceride gel networks. Journal of the Science of Food & Agriculture, Vol. 84(12): 1585 – 1593. 19. Ojijo, N. K. O., Kesselman, E., Shuster, V., Eichler, S., Eger, S., Neeman, I., and Shimoni, E. 2004. Changes in microstructural, thermal, and rheological properties of olive oil/monoglyceride networks during storage. Food Research International, Vol. 37(4): 385 – 393. 20. Ojijo, N. K. O. and Shimoni, E. 2004. Rheological properties of fermented finger millet (Eleucine coracana) thin porridge. Carbohydrate Polymers, Vol. 56(2, 4): 235 – 242. 21. Ojijo, N. K. O., Kimura, T., Shimizu, N. and Koaze, H. 2000. Viscoelastic components of hard-to-cook defect in soybean cotyledons subjected to accelerated storage and salt soaking. Journal of the Society of Agricultural Structures, Japan, Vol. 30(4): 61-72. 22. Ojijo, N. K. O., Kimura, T., Shimizu, N. and Koaze, H. 2000. Characterization of textural and chemical changes in soybean cotyledons subjected to accelerated storage and salt soaking. Journal of the Society of Agricultural Structures, Japan, Vol.30 (4): 31-42. 23. Ojijo, N. K. O., Kimura, T. and Kaoze, H. 2000. Composition, soaking and softening characteristics of some Kenyan beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Food Science and Technology Research, Vol.6 (1): 12 – 18. 2000 (Japan). 24. Karuri, E. G. and Ojijo, N. K. O. 1994. Storage studies on sweet potato roots: Experiences with KSP 20 cultivar. Acta Horticulturae (Postharvest 93), 368: 441 – 452. |
Prof. Ojijo, Nelson Kennedy Olang’o
Associate Professor
Current Title Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology,...
Veronica M.
For over 13 years, Veronica has been involved in business and enterprise development consulting through numerous local and international assignments. She is an internationally certified trainer and facilitator for the Global Link Facilitators Network (GLFN), a USAID Policy Link initiative. In various entrepreneurship and business Awards like the Human Development Innovation Fund, she has served as a technical panel member and mentor.
To promote professional growth in the business sector, she is the Co-founder of the Tanzania Association of Professional Business Development Service Providers (TAPBDS Consulting), Body Trustee as well as Director for Rose Manumba Trust.
Veronica’s passion lies in technology & innovation, particularly in smart agriculture where entrepreneurs/business owners can improve their core activities through the utilization of technology at each stage of the agricultural value chain e.g.“data”, “distribution” “market access” and “sustainability practices”.
Veronica M.
For over 13 years, Veronica has been involved in business...