Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu

Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, 28, was not listed in Time Magazine's May 2010 Edition '100 most influential people in the world as reported, but he is one of Nigeria's celebrated heroes who uses his skills and talents to alleviate the suffering of many rural farmers in South Eastern, Nigeria.

Growing up in Nigeria, Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu spent his after-school hours raising poultry and cattle. After high school, as he participated in youth and citizens’ associations helping farmers, Ikegwuonu quickly became aware that the rural community had little access to information about farming practices and environmental issues.

Today, Nnaemeka is multi-award-winning activist/entrepreneur: he developed a sustainable community owned and managed radio through which farmers can share knowledge with each other. He does this by providing valuable information and agricultural marketing techniques to the farmers to boost their sales through his radio station. Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu runs radio station which communicates to farmers in their native languages under the organization name Smallholders Foundation.

Nnaemeka recently won the 2009 Development Marketplace and 2010 Rolex Prize for Enterprise awards.

Sources: Grandiose Parlor, Development Marketplace, Time. Photo: Royal Expressions

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