[Startup Interview] Timi Oke, Founder, AgroEknor International, Nigeria

Timi Oke is the founder of AgroEknor International Limited in Nigeria that trades and exports processed agricultural products `agricultural products to clients in 9 different countries globally. The startup operates by sourcing, processing, storing, transporting and exporting its agricultural products to its global clients.

 Introduce your company

AgroEknor International Limited was founded in 2013 and is an agricultural commodity export trading company headquartered in Lagos Nigeria with major operations in Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Ekiti.

 The company primarily trades and exports processed agricultural products `agricultural products to clients in 9 different countries globally.

Focused on supply and demand, the Company operates by sourcing, processing, storing, transporting and exporting its agricultural products to its global clients.

AgroEknor's export volumes have continuously grown over the years and the Company has shipped over 7,200 tons cumulatively of agricultural products over the past 5 years.

Who are the founders and what are their professional backgrounds?

The company was founded by Timi Oke and co-founded by Attah Anzaku and Ayo Oke

How is the company financed?

In 2018, The Nigerian Export and Import Bank recognized AgroEknor as one of the most innovative export companies in Nigeria and provided a Trade Finance facility in an effort to increase the company's export volume.

Why did you start AgroEknor? What opportunities did you see?

The AgroEknor vision began as a simple export trade idea which propelled the founders into opening up channels of sourcing and distribution of agricultural commodities globally.

We identified a gap between supply of readily available agricultural products in Africa and its demand worldwide; a gap we could conveniently fill while delivering superior service and improving the communities we trade in. Through creative farmer support initiatives, the company has empowered over 3,000 rural farmers across Northern and South West Nigeria.

What problem or problems does your company solve?

Enhancing the cultivation capacity of small holder farmers across Nigeria and increasing access to global markets for various agriculture commodities.

We also focus on reducing the vulnerability of 300 smallholder farmers and 200 female Agro processing workers employed in the dry hibiscus value chain while improving women farmers access to farm credit capital.

What sets your company apart from the rest in your sector?

We pride ourselves in guaranteed market access, elaborate distribution channels and market knowhow

Who are your customers?

We work with beverage production companies and agro import companies

What has shaped the commodity export over the years?

The commodity export industry in Nigeria has expanded rapidly in the past several years and with the current demand of foreign exchange, growth is expected to continue at a strong pace for the foreseeable future.

This offers excellent opportunities for new and existing companies in the industry to expand their business in this market.

What does your company need in order to grow?

Capital

What is your growth strategy?

AgroEknor will explore additional opportunities for expansion through product diversification and better market linkages.

We will continue to leverage the favourable climatic conditions for agriculture cultivation that Nigeria offers, and the abundance of farmlands available in the federation to grow our production capacity in order to capture more of the market.

Where markets are you looking to expand to?

We intend to be in 24 countries in the course of the next three years.

What are your plans for the coming 12 months?

Grow export volumes and introduce retail products.

www.agroeknor.com

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