Kola Masha
Kola Masha is the Managing Director of Babban Gona, a high impact, financially sustainable and highly scalable social enterprise providing key services to smallholder farmers. Kola Masha created Babban Gona to specifically attract youths to agriculture, and further away from the looming instability of extremist groups.
Kola Masha accomplishes this alongside his team by franchising thousands of mini maize and rice farmer cooperatives across the Northern part of Nigeria; thereby, increasing the profitability of the smallholder members, 2.8 to 3.5 times above the national average. This increase in net income is achieved by delivering an integrated, holistic training package, farm inputs and marketing services on credit. So far, Kola has helped the organization to deliver this credit while also maintaining one of the highest repayment rates in the world, currently above 99.99%.
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Kola obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.
Kola has an impressive portfolio that comprises significant leadership experiences in venture capital, corporate finance, business development as well as marketing and operations across four continents with leading and well-rated global companies including General Electric (GE), Abiomed Doreo Partners and Notore. Additionally, Kola has extensive experience in the public sector, working as Senior Advisor to the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture. He has played vital roles that have led to the advancement of the Nigerian and African economy.
Prior to Babban Gona, Kola served as Managing Director at Doreo Partners, an agriculture venture capital firm from 2010-2014. Also, from 2007-2010, he was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Notore Foods, a major subsidiary in the Notore Group, one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural conglomerates. There, he performed various significant roles that led to the growth of the establishment. Kola raised $24 million to develop integrated agricultural trading, production and processing business as well as led the development and execution of Notore’s commercial strategy across West and Central Africa, preparing the company to sell one million tons of fertilizer and establish a modern seed business. He was further instrumental in the raise of $130 million in equity, and the restructuring of $360 million in debt.
In recognition of his efforts in driving positive change in Africa, he has received several international awards including the much-coveted Eisenhower Fellowship, Rainer Fellowship, and was appointed to the Board of the African Enterprise Challenge Fund, a $250 million fund that awards grants and repayable ones to companies operating in the private sector, to support innovative business ideas in agriculture, renewable energy and adaptation to climate change.
Kola Masha is globally recognized as a thought leader in African Agribusiness. He is a force to reckon with and we are rooting for him.