Meet the ‘Smarties,’ a group of brilliant pre-teen girls from Nigeria who are making waves online with their innovative solution to combat food insecurity. Goodness Nwonanne-Chima, Tiffany Tejiri Oghenemaro, Excel Kiisibari Barile-Nwika, and Salome Obehiremen Akhabhau, aged 11 and 12, have designed an app called ‘AgriConnect’ that connects farmers, landowners, and investors to promote local food production and tackle hunger.
These young geniuses explain that their app supports the United Nations’ Goal 2, aiming to end hunger and improve food security by 2030. AgriConnect enables individuals with land but no farming expertise to partner with skilled farmers who lack resources. Investors can also join the platform to fund agricultural projects, ensuring a profit-sharing agreement benefits all parties involved.
The girls’ innovative project earned them a spot as Beginner Division finalists in the 2024 Technovation Girls competition, which encourages girls to pursue STEM education. They won the Combat Hunger Award for agriculture, beating teams from around the world. This victory qualifies them for further training in California, USA, where they’ll compete with other global winners later this year.
The Smarties’ achievement is a testament to the power of young minds and their potential to drive positive change. Their app has the potential to make a significant impact on food security in Nigeria and beyond.
