Welcome! I am Joseph Fashola,

At Agrolinking Solutions Ltd., I serve as the Founder, CEO, and Business Analyst. My role encompasses strategic planning, product development, and stakeholder engagement, driven by a commitment to transforming agriculture through innovative, data-driven solutions and business. Focused on empowering stakeholders, promoting sustainable farming practices, and addressing systemic inefficiencies in the agribusiness value chain. Under my leadership, we developed AgTrail, (recognized by Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition) Nigeria's first food traceability platform, which enhances transparency, ensures compliance with EU regulations and NAFDAC standards, and supports agricultural producers and processors in accessing international markets. I also lead the development of AgSur, an alternative credit scoring algorithm that leverages non-traditional metrics to evaluate the creditworthiness of smallholder farmers, bridging financing gaps and fostering financial inclusion. We have executed several impactful projects, including the Livestock Value Chain Mapping Analysis in partnership with the Alliance for Sustainable Livestock (ASL) developing a detailed report on the value chain, providing actionable insights for stakeholders, policymakers and investors. I led the development of an in-house data collection application, onboarding over 100 farmers and improving resource access and operational efficiency which led to recognition by The Kaduna State Government in 2022. Additionally, I led our initial pilot extension service program, delivering 85% effective support to 20 farmers cultivating over 20 hectares of staples. I have actively engaged with over 50 stakeholders across the agricultural supply chain to foster collaboration and drive market growth. Our work has empowered over 500 farmers, reduced post-harvest losses, and improved operational efficiency through data aggregation, actionable insights, agribusiness support and capacity building. Recognized for our innovative impact, we have received accolades such as winning the AgroHack Challenge 2020 by MasterCard Foundation and Enterprise Development Centre, being Climate Launchpad 2021 national finalists, and earning first runner-up at the Kaduna at 50 Hackathon

At BarberzSpot Technologies Limited, I serve as the Product and Operations Manager. In this dynamic role, I oversee the entire product lifecycle; spanning ideation, design, development, launch, and continuous improvement ensuring that the BarberzSpot mobile app and platform deliver exceptional user experiences while driving innovation in the grooming industry. Additionally, I play a pivotal role in managing daily operations, coordinating cross-functional teams, and ensuring the seamless execution of strategic initiatives. As a co-founder, I am instrumental in shaping the startup's vision and long-term strategy, leveraging my expertise in business development and technology to establish BarberzSpot as a leader in its niche. Beyond my official responsibilities, I often step into Customer Success, Sales and HR roles, engaging and onboading customers, overseeing recruitment, employee engagement, and team development. My adaptability has earned me the title of the startup’s “errand boy,” a reflection of my commitment to taking on any task necessary to keep the company moving forward. Some of my key contributions include driving the app’s development, onboarding 50+ customers, securing a DUNS number for international credibility, and establishing a solid operational foundation.

From June 2023 to October 2024, I served as the Programs Manager and later the Agribusiness Lead at Agri Innovation Hub, where I transformed the Hub’s agribusiness landscape through innovative service offerings and impactful programs. I developed and implemented new agribusiness services, driving a 50% increase in client engagement and boosting revenue by 300%. By identifying market opportunities and presenting strategic business cases, I secured 100% senior management buy-in for these innovations. I established strategic partnerships with public and private sector agencies, supporting sustainable growth for over 70 agribusinesses and enhancing their social and economic inclusion. In partnership with the MasterCard Foundation and Enterprise Development Centre, I co-facilitated the mobilization of 15,000+ female-owned businesses through the Transforming Nigerian Youth program, training over 400 women and increasing their market readiness and access to finance. I co-organized the Agri Innovators Hackathon, which tackled challenges like low productivity, supply chain inefficiencies, and climate impacts through tech-driven solutions. I also led the She4Agribusiness, Local Chicken Improved Production (LOCIP), and Agripreneurship Training programs, empowering over 50 women and youth in Kaduna State and increasing their engagement by 40%. Through these efforts, I contributed to a 30% improvement in meeting the needs of an agribusiness community of over 800 members, advancing sustainable practices and fostering social inclusion.

From August 2023 to December 2023, I served as a Business Development Analyst at Farmz2U, where I played a pivotal role in driving profitability and inclusive growth for smallholder farmers in Northern Nigeria. I boosted the startup’s profitability by 15% through strategic sourcing, risk mitigation, and deal facilitation, achieving a 25% improvement in supply chain efficiency while ensuring equitable market access for over 3,000 smallholder farmers. One of my key achievements was securing Farmz2U’s first-ever recurring sales, generating over $15,000 in biweekly revenue. I facilitated market access for smallholder farmers, driving growth in local agricultural communities. My leadership in market research across agricultural hubs in Kaduna and Kano States identified collaboration opportunities that increased engagement on Farmz2U’s Talon and Kuju platforms by 30%, empowering underserved farmers and advancing social and financial inclusion. I engaged and managed major production and supply chain stakeholders, including farmers, processors, and aggregators, addressing pain points to operations and product teams. This resulted in a 25% improvement in reliable supply chains. I also oversaw end-to-end logistics for sourcing and delivering agricultural commodities, negotiated profitable pricing, and streamlined processes, ensuring mutually beneficial deals and optimizing efficiency.

From October 2023 to October 2024, I worked as a Consultant at Nguvu Consult for Africa Project Development Centre, where I supported over 35 youth entrepreneurs and more than 50 agribusinesses across the value chain. My efforts were centered on facilitating business development, delivering technical assistance, and providing strategic advisory services to enhance market readiness and growth. Under the African Development Bank Group’s SYMUF Project and IFAD Agrihub initiative, I empowered entrepreneurs with the tools to structure, refine, and pitch their businesses effectively. I conducted business skills training, redefined operational processes, and guided participants through business model canvas development, achieving a 60% improvement in market readiness with a strong focus on social sustainability and inclusion. I also delivered capacity-building programs with speciality in design thinking, business model canvas, and pitch readiness to 100+ agribusinesses as part of the EU Healthy Diets Project, African Development Bank Group’s SYMUF Project and IFAD Agrihub initiative. By producing data-driven analysis reports, I provided implementing partners with actionable insights that enhanced project efficiency by 20%, reduced costs by 15%, and integrated socially inclusive practices into outcomes. Through these initiatives, I enabled market entry and sustainable growth for businesses, refined business strategies, and supported socially impactful practices, contributing to long-term success for entrepreneurs and agribusinesses alike.

From August 2022 to December 2022, I worked as a Freelance Product Manager and Scrum Master at Provarex, where I led the development and optimization of ScoDa, an automated social media content creation and management tool designed for SMEs and startups. My efforts improved operational efficiency for over 20 SMEs, resulting in a 25% increase in client satisfaction and reducing content creation and management turnaround time by 30%. As a Scrum Master, I managed cross-functional teams, ensuring timely sprint execution and enhancing project timelines while boosting team productivity by 20%. I facilitated agile ceremonies, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement across all development cycles. I conducted comprehensive requirement-gathering sessions using techniques like interviews, questionnaires, and focus group discussions to understand business and stakeholder needs. Collaborating closely with business clients and technical teams, I documented requirements, supervised product builds, and prioritized the product backlog. By integrating data-driven insights, I refined processes, identified opportunities for ScoDa’s scalability, and aligned product roadmaps with user needs. These efforts drove measurable success in product adoption and ensured long-term value for small and medium enterprises. Athough we had to shortdown the project due to resource constraints.

From September 2022 to October 2022, I served as a Portfolio Development Officer at The Scath Companies, where I contributed to portfolio growth, strategy, and operations management for startups within the accelerator pipeline. My efforts resulted in a 20% boost in productivity and operational efficiency across eight portfolio startups by identifying challenges and recommending actionable improvements. Collaborating with the consulting division, I played a key role in developing a multi-million-dollar real estate business plan, aligning strategic goals with market opportunities to drive long-term profitability. Additionally, I developed a comprehensive investment strategy for a proposed $1 million fund, leveraging financial analysis and market research. Also, collaborated with stakeholders to design a fund structure and governance model, demonstrating strong communication and project management skills. ensuring they were well-positioned for investment readiness, growth, and scalability. I worked closely with stakeholders to perform gap analyses, define business and operational strategies, and enhance value propositions for portfolio companies. My engagement helped ensure their sustainable growth and competitiveness in the market. To drive informed decision-making, I delivered data-driven insights and performance reports that tracked portfolio progress, identified potential risks, and optimized resource allocation.

From March 2022 to June 2022, I served as Operations Manager at MyFarmbase Africa, where I played a pivotal role in driving operational efficiency and advancing youth empowerment in agribusiness. I implemented quality control measures, monitored team KPIs, and streamlined processes, achieving a 15% reduction in operational costs while promoting inclusive practices and equitable opportunities. Building strong relationships with key stakeholders, I fostered strategic collaborations that drove a 20% increase in partnership engagements, further supporting socially sustainable agricultural initiatives. My efforts were instrumental in successfully delivering Cohort 19 of the Ag.Dev Program, empowering over 150 youths with the knowledge and skills required for agribusiness success. I revitalized the Fellows-to-Fellows Dialogue Series, creating a vibrant platform for over 10,000 participants to connect, interact, and share insights weekly. Additionally, I designed the Young Agripreneurs Development Program, preparing undergraduates studying agriculture in Nigerian universities for real-world agribusiness challenges, resulting in a 25% increase in youth engagement. Collaborating with stakeholders, I contributed to the development of a Learning Management System (LMS) that enabled real-time learning and resource access for customers, optimizing program efficiency and fostering peer learning.

From March 2020 to June 2022, I served as National Vice President of Communications and Membership at the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS), Nigeria, where I spearheaded initiatives to enhance communication, membership growth, and organizational impact. Leading a cross-functional team, I developed and implemented strategic communication plans, including launching a new website that boosted community membership and interactions by over 50%. I played a pivotal role in expanding IAAS Nigeria to three new higher institutions and reviving three dormant chapters, training over 100 members on organizational processes and driving the adoption of nationwide changes. Collaborating with fellow executives, I facilitated over 10 national projects and introduced process improvement measures, enhancing operational efficiency by 25%. Representing IAAS Nigeria at public forums, conferences, and meetings with corporate representatives, government officials, and community leaders, I increased awareness and advocacy for youth engagement in agriculture. Notably, I spearheaded the process that restored IAAS Nigeria's 100% membership at the World Congress in 2020. Additionally, I co-designed and implemented capacity-building programs, impacting over 500 youths pursuing agricultural studies and solidifying IAAS Nigeria’s reputation as a leading voice in agricultural student development.

From November 2020 to March 2021, I served as a Development Intern at the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, contributing to key agricultural initiatives and policy development efforts. My work involved supporting the implementation of major projects such as the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) (World Bank), National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP) (FAO), and the Horticulture and Home Garden (Urban Farming) Project under the Department of Agricultural Services, driving enhanced project outcomes and sustainability. Collaborating with the Director of Veterinary Services and a professional team, I identified workflow inefficiencies, proposed solutions, and increased digitalization by 5%, optimizing departmental processes. I also contributed 5% to strategic recommendations, leveraging analytical insights to address project challenges. My role extended to policy-making, where I assisted in drafting the Kaduna State Food Safety Policy, demonstrating my commitment to advancing agricultural policy frameworks. Additionally, I worked closely with the Special Assistants to the Honourable Commissioner to produce the Ministry's end-of-year magazine and complete other administrative tasks, showcasing my ability to manage multiple responsibilities effectively.