Rotimi Williams (36), an entrepreneur that is changing the face of agriculture in Nigeria

Rotimi Williams (36), an entrepreneur that is changing the face of agriculture in Nigeria. The former journalist is the owner of Kereksuk Rice Farm in Nasarawa state, the 45,000 hectared second largest rice farm in Nigeria. With three degress in Economics, Finance and Development Studies, Williams is putting his education into good use with a dream to help Nigeria achieve economic sustainability through reduction of importation of specific consumable products such as rice.

Leaving his job in the banking sector to pursue his passion for agriculture while learning all he knows about farming through Google, Williams shows that where there is a will, a way will indeed be found. The farm is currently producing 8,000 metric tons of rice per year, a number Williams hops to double in the coming year.

But perhaps what is more inspiring is how he has managed to deal with the challenges of farming in Northern Nigeria, specifically, with the Fulani herdsmen prevalent in the region. Setting up an initiative that trains Fulani women in rice farming at the same time as employing their men as security while allowing them feed their cattle with the rice straws from the harvest.

This ingenious approach could just be the solution the Federal Government might want to employ to help greatly reduce incidences of clashes between herdsmen and farmers. If that doesn’t say inspiring, we don’t know what is.