The 2026 VALUE4HER Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) are putting fresh capital and visibility behind women-led businesses that are creating jobs, strengthening food systems and adding value to agricultural products across Africa.
Nineteen women were honored in Kigali this week after more than 1,000 applications were received from 35 African countries. The finalists represented 15 nations, with the awards providing funding intended to help established businesses expand rather than simply recognize their achievements.
The awards are part of VALUE4HER, the flagship continental initiative of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which connects more than 17,000 women-led agribusinesses across 48 African countries to finance, markets, technology and commercial networks.
AGRA President Alice Ruhweza said women are active across Africa’s food systems, from farming and cooperatives to processing and distribution. The awards therefore recognize businesses that are already contributing to economic growth and food security, while giving their founders resources to increase their impact.
Rwandan entrepreneur Marina Kamanzi, founder and managing director of Zambia-based Kagezi Seed Company Limited, received the 2026 WAYA Grand Prize and US$40,000. Her company produces climate-resilient, organically grown seeds for crops often overlooked by mainstream suppliers and operates an outgrower scheme that involves smallholder farmers in production.
Kamanzi’s work has also received international recognition. Earlier this year, the World Food Prize Foundation named her among its Top Agri-food Pioneers for her contribution to seed systems in the region.
Businesses Creating Value Across Africa
Five category winners received US$25,000 each for businesses addressing different needs across Africa’s agricultural economy.
Nigeria’s Ifeoma Mary Okonkwo, of IFGREEN Industries & Investment Ltd, won the Women Empowerment Champion award. Her Lagos-based company processes cassava into gluten-free flour, food-grade starch and other industrial products while including local farmers in its supply chain. The business has grown from two employees to supporting 77 direct and indirect jobs. Okonkwo was also named overall winner of Nigeria’s National MSME Awards last year, receiving a prize package worth 220 million naira.
Uganda’s Doreen Jean Nsasiirwe, founder of Westlink Delicacy Api Group Ltd, won Resilient & Inspirational Leader for building a business around apiculture and natural products while creating income opportunities for beekeepers and supporting environmental conservation.
Zimbabwe’s Peserverance Muzeya of Alzanael Private Limited won Outstanding Value-Adding Enterprise for connecting agricultural production with processing and consumer markets, helping retain more value within African communities.
Kenyan entrepreneur Cherotich Rutto, founder of Tawi Fresh, won Female Ag-Tech Innovator. Her B2B agritech platform connects smallholder farmers with commercial kitchens and other buyers, reducing dependence on middlemen. After its 2023 launch through Standard Chartered’s SC Ventures Lab, Tawi Fresh onboarded more than 1,000 farmers and 250 commercial kitchens.
Mali’s Sakalé Traoré won Young Female Agripreneur, Rising Star, recognizing strong leadership and innovation among entrepreneurs under 35.
The awards also recognized runners-up. Thokozani Chimasula of Malawi and Irene Etyang of Kenya placed first and second runner-up respectively in Women Empowerment Champion both receiving US$10,000 and US$8,000 respectively. Aniella Niyondiko of Burundi and Portia Asumda of Ghana followed Nsasiirwe, while Zainab Lawal Gwadabe of Nigeria and Aminata Ouattara of Burkina Faso followed Muzeya.
In Female Ag-Tech Innovator, Seynabou Diallo of Senegal and Millicent Okumu, founder of Agriflex Ltd in Kenya, were runners-up.
Five regional winners, each receiving US$12,000, were also recognized: Amira Affaf Bellil of Algeria for North Africa, Yvette Dickson-Tetteh of Ghana for West Africa, Sabiha Rashid of Tanzania for East Africa, Rachel Ushindi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Shirley Marlin Da Graça of Mozambique for Southern Africa.
With a total prize pool of US$300,000, WAYA 2026 gives these businesses more than recognition. It provides capital and continental visibility that can help them reach new markets, create more jobs and expand their contribution to Africa’s food economy.
