Nigerians
consume more than 5 million metric tons of rice every year, with a
significant portion of its consumption needs sourced from imports.
Rotimi Williams, an ambitious 35 year-old Nigerian entrepreneur and rice
farmer, is on a quest to change that.
Williams, a former Journalist, is the
owner of Kereksuk Rice Farm, the 2nd largest commercial rice farm in
Nigeria by land size. His farm, which is situated in Nasarawa state in
northern Nigeria, currently sits on 45,000 hectares and employs more
than 600 indigenes of Nasarawa.
Forbes’
contributor, Mfonobong Nsehe, recently caught up with the budding
entrepreneur in Lagos, and had a brief chat with him where he recounted
his journey and mused on how Nigeria can attain self-sufficiency in rice
production in the near future.
What’s your educational and professional background?
I
attended King’s College in Lagos. After attending secondary school at
King’s College I proceeded to obtain my first degree at University of
Aberdeen where I graduated with a degree in Economics. I also obtained a
Master’s Degree in Economics from the same institution. My quest for
more knowledge led me to enroll for yet another Master’s Degree at the
School of Oriental and African Studies, London where I gained an MSc. in
Finance and Development Studies.
Upon graduation, I landed a role as an analyst at the European
Economics and Financial Centre in London. Afterwards, Euromoney
Magazine- employed me where I covered the African space.
I would say that this is where my journey truly started.
Credit: Forbes
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