Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu
Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu is the Chief Executive Officer of ColdHubs, a solar-powered, walk-in cold room for 24 hours off-grid storage and preservation of perishable foods. ColdHubs adequately addresses the problem of post-harvest losses in fruits, vegetables and other perishable farm produce. The startup was recently announced as the joint winner of the inaugural AYuTe Africa Challenge, securing a combined $1.5 million in grant funding alongside Kenya’s Hello Tractor. In October 2020, it was selected as the only African startup to participate in the virtual 2020 FoodBytes! Pitch. Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu believes the support from Heifer and the AYuTe Africa Challenge would help his company expand the number of coolers it operates from 50 to about 5,000.
Nnaemeka is also the Executive Director of The Smallholders Foundation, a social development organization that he founded in 2003, to promote sustainable agricultural development and environmental conservation that benefits rural small farmers through educational radio programs and practical field demonstrations. Through this medium, Nnaemeka develops and broadcasts agricultural, environmental management and market information programs to inform and improve the economic capacity of small farmers.
Nnaemeka completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and International Studies from Imo State University, and a master’s degree in Development and Cooperation from the Institute for Advanced Studies, The University of Pavia, Italy.
Nnaemeka, is an Alumna of the prestigious Youth Encounter on Sustainability (YES), 2008 Global Fellow YouthActionNet – International Youth Foundation, 2008 Ashoka Fellow, 2009 Caux Scholar, 2009 Fellow of the Global Social Benefit Incubator of Santa Clara University, and Fellow, Rainer Arnhold Fellowship Program of Mulago Foundation.
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The young farmer is the recipient of several awards including the 2009 Outstanding Commitment Award, World Bank Development Marketplace on Climate Change Adaptation, 2010 Laureate of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise – Young Laureates Program, 2010 World Youth Summit Awards (WYSA), Laureate of the World Innovation Summit in Education (WISE), and 2011 Architect of the Future Awards by Waldzell Institute Austria. He was named Nigeria’s Young Person of the Year 2011 by The Future Awards Nigeria, 2011 Young Leader by the BMW Foundation Young Leaders Forum, and 100 Most Creative People in the World by Fast Company USA,
Nnaemeka holds membership of various organizations including The International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance, Society for Conservation Biology, Society for Wetland Scientists, IUCN Commission on Education and Communication, IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy, amongst others.
He has been featured in major local and international media, including TIMES Magazine, Fast Company Magazine, Africa Link Magazine and African Leadership Magazine.
Nnaemeka has spoken at various international conferences and forums. He spoke at the Agricultural Infrastructural Development – POTICO III Forum organized by the US Embassy in Nigeria and the Bank of Industry. He also facilitated the World Bank Training on Climate Change in Agriculture for FADAMA III Program Managers from 36 states of Nigeria in May 2010.
We are delighted to have Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu as our MCM feature this week.
Learn more about his initiative on coldhubs.com