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Wefarm Gets $13m for Smallholder Agricultural Ecosystem

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Wefarm Smallholder Agricultural Ecosystem

About $13 million has been raised by the digital network for global small-scale agriculture, Wefarm, to assist the company further scale its network of 1.9 million farmers, and its newly created Marketplace, to connect farmers in Africa, even those without internet access, to the information, products and services they need to be more successful.

The funding package mainly came from Silicon Valley venture capital firm, True Ventures, with support from AgFunder and June Fund, among others.

Founded in 2015, Wefarm is on a mission to create a global eco-system for small-scale agriculture. With more than one billion people directly involved in small-scale farming, it is the biggest industry in the world. Wefarm is building the network of trust for those farmers.

Wefarm Marketplace allows farmers to easily access quality products and services, such as seeds, fertilizers and a range of other non-agricultural items from trusted retailers and brands. In line with Wefarm’s bottom-up model, all products, services and retailers on the platform have been recommended by Wefarm users and can even be purchased through SMS.

Disproportionally, smallholder farmers lose too much time and money due to fake or faulty agricultural products. Farm yields in many parts of Africa are just one-fifth of farm yield in the United States or Europe. Poor-quality seeds and fertilisers also limit growth in plants and animals. Given that smallholder farmers grow roughly 70 percent of the world’s food, Wefarm intends to use its technology to help close this yield gap.

The company’s funding announcement coincides with another notable growth milestone of reaching $1 million in total sales from the Wefarm Marketplace in just eight months since launch; that’s faster growth than both Amazon and eBay in their early stages.

With Marketplace sales growing at more than 40 percent month on month, the business is on a rapid growth trajectory. Over the next 12 months it aims to diversify into supporting farmers with both financing and delivery, as well as enabling them to trade the commodities and crops they grow, with the goal of becoming a key part of the global supply chain on behalf of the farmer.

Wefarm CEO and Founder Kenny Ewan believes the platform’s Marketplace will grow into an expansive ecosystem for smallholder farmers.

“If we can inspire 100 million farmers to work together on one platform, we can fundamentally shift global agriculture and trade in their favour, and this round of funding will take us even closer to bringing this vision for improved farm yields into fruition,” said Ewan. “It’s about harnessing AI to champion human intelligence. Our network of trust empowers farmers to find solutions to problems by knowledge sharing. In tandem, the marketplace will give them access to first-rate products that help to deliver better produce. The combination of the two has limitless potential to influence and fight the major agricultural crisis we face.”

“We are enormously inspired by how Kenny and the Wefarm team have empowered the world’s farmers, and we see great potential for their future,” said Jon Callaghan, co-founder of True Ventures. “The company is not only impact-driven, but the impressive growth of the Wefarm Marketplace demonstrates exciting commercial opportunities that will connect those farmers to more of what they need to the benefit of all, across the food supply chain. This is a big, global business.”

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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NGIC Pipeline Network to Experience 4-Day Gas Supply Shortage

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NGIC Pipeline Network

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The pipeline network of the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) will witness a temporary reduction in gas supply for four days.

This information was revealed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Andy Odeh, in a statement on Thursday night.

A key supplier of gas into the NGIC pipeline network is Seplat Energy Plc, a joint venture partner of the state-owned oil agency.

It was disclosed that the facility would undergo routine maintenance from Thursday. February 12 to Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The NNPC stated that, “This planned activity forms part of standard industry safety and asset integrity protocols designed to ensure the continued reliability, efficiency, and safe operation of critical gas infrastructure.”

“Periodic maintenance of this nature is essential to sustain optimal system performance, strengthen operational resilience, and minimise the risk of unplanned outages,” it added.

“During the four-day maintenance period, there will be a temporary reduction in gas supply into the NGIC pipeline network. As a result, some power generation companies reliant on this supply may experience reduced gas availability, which could modestly impact electricity generation levels within the timeframe.

“NNPC Ltd and Seplat Energy are working closely to ensure that the maintenance is executed safely and completed as scheduled. In parallel, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) is engaging alternative gas suppliers to mitigate anticipated supply gaps and maintain stability across the network,” the statement further said.

“Upon completion of the maintenance exercise, full gas supply into the NGIC system is expected to resume promptly, enabling affected power generation companies to return to normal operations,” it concluded.

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Judge Withdraws from EFCC Cases Against Former AGF Malami

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Abubakar Malami Assets Recovery Campaign

By Adedapo Adesanya

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has recused himself from the two cases involving the former Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Egwuatu was recently reassigned the cases by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and he disclosed that he withdrew for personal reasons and in the interest of justice.

The cases against Mr Malami were formerly before Justice Emeka Nwite of the same court, who was a vacation judge during the festive season.

Mr Egwuatu’s recusal comes after the civil suit for the forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Mr Malami was called for mention.

The former AGF, his wife, and son are facing a 16-count money laundering charge. They were granted bail on January 7 in the sum of N500 million with two sureties by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Nwite stated that the sureties must have landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, and Gwarinpa.

The judge added that the trio must submit their travel documents to the court.

The former Minister of Justice is facing a fresh persecution over the arms and ammunition found in his house by the Department of State Service (DSS). The arms were reportedly uncovered at his Kebbi country home by the operatives of the EFCC during a search.

The anti-graft agency handed the weapon to the secret police for a comprehensive probe, citing a lack of constitutional authority to investigate the possession.

Similarly, the former AGF was accused of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were brought to his office as the AGF in the last administration for prosecution. Alongside his son, the lawyer was accused by the DSS of engaging in conduct in preparation to commit an act of terrorism by having in their possession and without a licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 Cartridges.

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NLNG Says Low-Risk Key to Unlocking Value in Nigeria’s Gas Industry

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Nigeria LNG Limited NLNG

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria LNG (NLNG) has reaffirmed that a well-structured, low-risk approach in Nigeria’s energy sector is essential to unlocking investments, accelerating economic development and strengthening energy security.

NLNG’s General Manager, Production, Mr Nnamdi Anowi, said this at a panel session titled De-Risking Investments in African Oil and Gas Projects during the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) in Lagos, noting that when oil and gas projects are perceived as too risky, investors tend to withdraw, leading to stalled projects, job losses, and missed revenue opportunities critical for national growth.

According to a statement by Mrs Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, he stated that reducing risks in oil and gas projects, beyond being a business strategy, was a matter of national importance for Nigeria’s economy, energy security, and long-term development.

He further explained that for NLNG, lowering risk means keeping gas flowing reliably, meeting long-term contracts, and ensuring the company remains a trusted supplier to global and domestic markets.

He said this will allow investors to fund projects at a lower cost, which ultimately benefits both companies and the country.

Mr Anowi also highlighted the importance of good infrastructure, local skills, and modern technology in reducing everyday operational risks.

He said that when pipelines, processing facilities, and digital systems work well, projects are safer, cheaper to run, and more reliable over time.

“If we reduce risk the right way and work together, investment will come; the next decade must focus on growing proven, bankable projects that deliver real value to the country, ” he further said.

In his closing remarks, Mr Anowi noted that Africa and Nigeria in particular are investable when risks are planned for and managed carefully, not ignored.

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