[Kigali, Rwanda – September 4, 2024] – AGRA has today announced six winners of the 2024 Women Agri-preneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) during the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) held in Kigali, Rwanda.
This year’s WAYA awards finalists were selected from a record-breaking 1,535 applications spanning 44 African nations, a significant increase from the 1,430 applicants and 42 participating nations in 2023.This highlights the growing influence and importance of women in Africa’s agribusiness sector. The finalists represented diverse countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
This year’s heroines hail from from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal received a total of US85,000 in grant funding during the ceremony in the categories of; Outstanding Value Adding Enterprise, Female Ag Tech Innovator, Young Female Agripreneur (Rising Star), and Grand Prize.
Speaking during the fourth edition of the WAYA awarding ceremony, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA, remarked, “The WAYA awards shine a spotlight on the extraordinary women who are transforming Africa’s agricultural landscape. These women are not only leaders in their fields but are also driving inclusive growth, fostering innovation, and empowering their communities. Their contributions are pivotal to the continent’s food security and economic development.”
Ms. Nana Yaa Boakyewaa Amoah, Director for Gender, Youth & Inclusiveness at AGRA, one the judges, added, “Women represent 50% of the agricultural labor force in Africa and are responsible for 70% of production. Yet, they remain underrepresented in leadership roles within agribusiness. The WAYA awards aim to bridge this gap by recognizing and incentivizing women as key drivers of agricultural transformation in Africa.”
The other judges responsible for selecting this year’s winners included; Delphine Traoré, CEO, Sanlam Allianz General Insurance & AGRA Board Member, Jeniffer Ramnath, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Mastercard Foundation, Mary Boote, Vice Chair, International Agri-Food Network & CEO, Global Farmer Network, Judy Matu, National Executive Chairlady, Association of Women in Agriculture, Kenya, Oluyemisi Iranloye, and WAYA 2022 Grand Prize Winner & CEO, Psaltry International & Psaltry Foundation.
Ms. Judy Matu, WAYA 2024 Judge and National Executive Chairlady of the Association of Women in Agriculture Kenya, stated, “As judges, our role goes beyond evaluating achievements. We amplify the voices of these remarkable women and highlight their contributions to sustainable agribusiness and economic growth across Africa. It is an honor to celebrate their success and impact.”
The WAYA initiative, launched at the AGRF 2021 Summit, has become a cornerstone of AGRA’s efforts to strengthen women’s agribusiness enterprises across the continent. The initiative is supported by VALUE4HERConnect, Africa’s first women-in-agribusiness digital marketplace. Through VALUE4HER, AGRA enhances the performance of women entrepreneurs by improving their access to markets, finance, and investments.
Since its launch, WAYA has successfully recognized and celebrated women agripreneurs across Africa through annual award ceremonies and convenings. Explore highlights from previous editions, including winners, key moments, and milestones from past events.