Chinwendu Augustina Nweke is the Founder of Bridge Merchant Enterprises, a purpose-driven agribusiness advancing sustainable, technology-enabled solutions that increase farm profitability while reducing food loss across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

Through an innovative, market-led model, Chinwendu has engaged and trained over 10,000 smallholder farmers, equipping them with practical knowledge, productivity tools, and access to structured markets. Central to this approach is a youth agent network that delivers extension services, logistics coordination, and market linkage support, ensuring farmers are able not only to produce efficiently but also to sell profitably.

To date, Bridge Merchant Enterprises has enabled more than 1,200 farmers to access formal markets, generating over USD 105,000 in direct revenue while significantly reducing post-harvest losses. Technology underpins this impact. The organisation has deployed a farmer-focused mobile application, connecting producers to buyers, resources, and real-time market insights, improving transparency and efficiency across the value chain.

Chinwendu has also led strategic infrastructure investments, including the acquisition of a major warehouse and the introduction of a silo-based storage model, strengthening storage capacity and minimising losses. Through these efforts, Bridge Merchant Enterprises has facilitated the sale and export of over 5,000 metric tons of agricultural produce, contributing to food system resilience and expanded trade opportunities.

Beyond productivity and markets, Chinwendu’s work prioritises economic empowerment and youth employment. The enterprise has sourced produce from over 500 farms, created more than 300 direct and indirect jobs, and supported farmers with USD 20,000 in grant funding to scale their operations.

In recognition of its impact, Bridge Merchant Enterprises has received a Global Innovation Award following three international nominations. Operating across 16 states in Nigeria, with expansion underway, Chinwendu continues to shape a more inclusive, efficient, and profitable agricultural future—one farmer, one innovation, and one harvest at a time.