We Must Rebrand Agriculture to Attract Youths — Alao Akala’s Daughter Urges

Founder of UMèRA Farms & Business School, Olamide Alao-Akala, is a leading voice redefining agriculture in Nigeria. In this interview with YETUNDE AJANAKU, she spoke on how she turned failure into a foundation for growth.

LET’S begin with your journey. What inspired you to venture into agribusiness, a field often dominated by men?

My journey into agribusiness wasn’t a grand plan; it was an unexpected calling. My father asked me to oversee the family’s farm investment, and to be honest, I wasn’t excited at first. But as I did it, I found it fascinating how agribusiness is so underrated, yet it will forever be a huge part of human survival. That was what piqued my interest.

In 2013, I would leave Lagos at 4 a.m., drive down to Ogbomoso to inspect the farm, and return the same day. It was exhausting yet strangely fulfilling. I didn’t know it then, but those trips were sowing the seeds of a lifelong passion.

By 2015, I decided to start my own farm, five acres in Epe, Lagos, but it failed. That failure became my greatest teacher. It taught me that agriculture is a science, not guesswork. You can’t rely on enthusiasm alone; you need structure, research, and systems. That revelation shaped everything I’ve built since.

Agriculture in Nigeria faces many hurdles, including financing, infrastructure and gender bias. What have been your biggest challenges as a female agripreneur, and how did you overcome them?

Affordable financing and bias. When I started, it was difficult to access credit or even be taken seriously. Agriculture, especially long-term produce, isn’t funded by most commercial banks, and even when you want to borrow, the terms are rarely affordable.

As a woman, people would often ask, “What are you doing in a man’s field?” But I don’t believe any industry is gender-specific. Every field needs people who are willing to make a difference. I’ve learned that the world eventually adjusts to competence.

So, I tell young women — don’t fight for seats at tables. Build your own tables, then invite others to sit.

The youth are often hesitant to venture into agriculture. What can government and private sectors do differently to make agribusiness more appealing to young Nigerians?

We must rebrand agriculture. Young people won’t invest in what looks like suffering. They need to see that agribusiness is not about toiling endlessly under the sun, it’s about technology, logistics, finance, innovation, and impact. Agriculture is now a space where drones monitor crops, software tracks yields, and data drives decision-making.

The government must invest in agricultural education that goes beyond theory. We need practical demonstration farms, tech-enabled hubs, and youth-friendly funding schemes. The private sector, on its part, should partner with innovators to make agribusiness more visible and profitable for young Nigerians.

At UMèRA, we’re working to bridge that perception gap with our upcoming Alaafia Village, an agrotourism and innovation resort that will combine leisure, learning, and investment. It’s designed to show that agriculture can be exciting, luxurious, and deeply rewarding. We’re optimistic that this will spark something in the hearts of young people that they can build wealth and purpose right from the soil of this nation.

Many people see farming as a traditional vocation, yet you’ve turned it into a modern, thriving enterprise. What unique model or approach sets our farm apart from conventional farms?

UMèRA is not a conventional farm; it’s a movement built on aggregation and innovation.

After my early challenges, I realized that scaling agriculture required thinking beyond the hoe and cutlass. In 2020, I returned to Ogbomoso seeking 100 acres, but God had bigger plans. We ended up with over 5,000 acres of land, and that was the birth of UMèRA Farms.

When bank financing proved nearly impossible, we created our own model: selling portions of farmland to investors while managing it for them. This gave rise to our “farm ownership without farming” concept. Today, we manage farms for investors from the U.S., U.K., Australia, and across Africa.

What birthed the name “UMèRA”?

Funnily, I get this question a lot; my dad asked me when he was alive. I told him to spell it backwards, and he smiled from ear to ear. UMèRA is actually my father’s oriki (praise name) spelt backwards. It’s a tribute to his legacy and strength.

Balancing leadership, motherhood, and womanhood can be demanding. How do you navigate the pressures that come with being a business leader and a woman in today’s world?

Balance, for me, is about seasons and priorities. I’m a mother, a leader, and a woman of faith and each role deserves its time. I no longer chase perfection; I chase purpose.

I’ve built systems around delegation and structure, and I make rest non-negotiable. My children remind me why I do what I do, while my faith reminds me how to do it with grace.

The cost of food in Nigeria keeps rising. In what practical ways do you think agricultural entrepreneurs like yourself can help bridge the gap between production and affordability for ordinary Nigerians?

We must rethink the agricultural value chain. Most farmers lose profit between harvest and market. We try our best in whatever way we can, but the value chain needs deeper exploration, not just the marketing of produce, which is the most common.

Entrepreneurs need affordable access to credit to invest in processing facilities and storage that will reduce post-harvest losses. The goal is simple: efficiency creates affordability. When we build smarter systems, food becomes accessible to everyone at good prices in all seasons.

Empowerment seems central to your work. What are some of the tangible ways UMèRA has empowered women and young entrepreneurs so far?

Through UMèRA Business School, we’ve trained over 5,000 young people for free in agribusiness, public speaking, project management, business development, leadership, and financial literacy. Most of them now use these skills to create income for themselves and their families.

Beyond business, who is Olamide Alao-Akala? What moments or habits keep you grounded outside your work life?

I’m a resilient and purpose-driven woman. I love teaching — I can’t help it. I love helping people see their God-given possibilities and reminding them that they are made for more.

Beyond titles, I’m just a woman committed to the purpose of changing lives.

You operate at the intersection of business and impact. Do you measure success by profit, influence, or impact?

For me, success is measured by transformation. Profit is vital, but people are the proof.

When a young person I mentored builds their first company… when a woman gains financial independence through our cooperative… when our investors in the diaspora tell me UMèRA connected them back to their roots — that’s success.

Let’s talk about failure, something many founders fear. Can you share a time when you almost gave up, and what lesson that season taught you?

There have been many tough seasons — poor yields, logistics failures, and financial strain. Sometimes it felt like the dream was crumbling. But those seasons reminded me that vision requires stretching.

I learned that the difference between quitting and winning is often just one more try. Those moments toughened me and refined our strategy. That’s why we stand strong today.

As a woman leader, have you ever faced being underestimated, and how did you respond without losing your authenticity?

Many times. I’ve walked into rooms where people sized me up before I even spoke. Some assumed, “She’s just a woman trying to play in a man’s field.” But I learned long ago that you don’t have to announce your competence; you just need to let your work speak.

I stay calm, composed, and confident. When I speak, I speak with clarity and conviction. Over time, people stop seeing gender and start seeing results. I’ve had men who once doubted me return later to seek partnership or mentorship.

For me, being authentic means leading from a place of grace, not aggression. You don’t need to become hard to be taken seriously, you just need to be consistent. I tell women all the time: don’t try to prove that you belong; simply perform, and the results will prove it for you. The world may question your gender, but never let it question your capacity or your character.

The world is shifting toward sustainability and food security. How is UMèRA Farms contributing to sustainable agricultural practices in Nigeria?

We practice regenerative farming — intercropping, using organic inputs, and working toward renewable energy for irrigation. We’re intentional about soil preservation and biodiversity because sustainability is not a buzzword for us; it’s a commitment.

Finally, what message would you share with young women who admire you but feel their dreams are too big or too distant to achieve?

Your dream is not too big — it’s your destiny calling you higher. I started with failure, five acres, and faith. Today, we manage thousands of acres because I refused to shrink my vision to fit my resources.

We step into our power by starting small and scared, but we start anyway. With faith and persistence, you won’t just grow — you’ll multiply.