The African continent has no shortage of farmers. It has no shortage of ideas either. Yet year after year, the continent continues to lose billions because too little of what we produce is processed, stored, or traded within Africa itself.For many agricultural entrepreneurs, the biggest hurdle isn't production. It's getting products across borders, accessing markets, and building businesses that can compete.

Few people have spent as much time working at the centre of those challenges as Lilian Oyugi. A project strategist with more than a decade of experience across food systems, agricultural trade, and environmental conservation, she has worked alongside farmers, entrepreneurs, governments, and development partners across the continent, helping build stronger agricultural enterprises and more resilient market systems.