Encomium
A conversation with a security guard who doubled as a farmer has earned Omolola Rebecca, founder of Agrovest, the top prize at the Abuja edition of The Gathering on 100 Pitchathon. Rebecca won ₦2.5 million after pitching Agrovest, an agritech platform that connects farmers with community funding to help them access the capital needed to expand their farms. The Pitchathon, one of the experiences at The Gathering on 100, is an MTN Nigeria initiative that supports young entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship and business visibility.
The inspiration for Agrovest came from an encounter Rebecca never expected would shape her entrepreneurial journey. She recalled meeting a security guard who would leave his job during the farming season to return to his village and cultivate his farm. Although he was passionate about farming, he struggled to expand because he lacked access to finance. The experience made her realise that many smallholder farmers face the same challenge.
“I met a security guard who was also a farmer. Every planting season, he would travel back to his village to work on his farm. He was hardworking and committed, but he couldn’t grow because he didn’t have the funding to scale. That was the moment I realised this wasn’t just his problem. It was the reality for many farmers across the country,” she said.
Determined to address the challenge, Rebecca founded Agrovest. The platform provides community-backed funding that enables farmers to access capital, improve productivity and grow sustainable agricultural businesses.
She described her victory at the Pitchathon as a significant milestone for the business. “This win means more people will notice Agrovest. It puts us in front of investors and partners who can help us grow. Beyond the funding, it gives us credibility and opens doors that will help us reach more farmers and create even greater impact,” she said.
Presenting the prize to the winner, Lanre Coker, Manager, Customer Acquisition and Compliance, North-West, MTN Nigeria, said The Gathering on 100 is designed to help young Nigerians unlock their potential by giving them opportunities to grow their ideas. “The Gathering on 100 is about helping young Nigerians achieve the height of their endeavours, whatever they may be. Through initiatives like the Pitchathon, we are creating opportunities for innovators to access funding, mentorship and the confidence to keep building,” he said.
Rebecca’s story was one of the defining moments of the Gathering on 100 Pitchathon in Abuja. It demonstrated how everyday encounters can inspire practical solutions to real-world problems. Her victory also reinforced The Gathering on 100’s growing reputation as a platform where promising ideas receive the support they need to become successful businesses.
