Retson Akpomejevwe Onyemaechi Tedheke is a defiant nationalist, passionate farmer, and community development enthusiast dedicated to promoting homegrown solutions to local and national problems. As an advocate of a focused institutionalization of the core principles of cultural preservation, Mr. Reston Tedheke views strong institutions as a panacea for economic growth, stability and sustainability.
In his role as the principal managing partner of the Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society (NFGCS), he oversees a functional and classical model of farm settlement that champions real rural productivity. Located in Ga’ate, Kokona LGA of Nasarawa State, the NFGCS was established in 2017 to drive agricultural productivity and serve as a working model to address national security problems, attract youths into agriculture, and build a sustainable urban-rural migratory framework.
In his determination to uplift his community of operation, Mr. Tedheke has profoundly impacted the lives of the people in Ga’ate, Kokona LGA of Nasarawa. He has created an employment scheme that provides jobs to otherwise unemployable rural residents, offering them hope and a means to a better future. His efforts include facilitating the renovation of the local primary school, constructing and reinforcing the road, electrifying the community, and supporting the health system, thereby creating real opportunities for businesses to thrive.
His commitment to national development led to the founding of the Asiwaju Farmers Forum in 2022, which later evolved into the Batkash National Farmers Forum and Cooperative Multipurpose Society. This initiative aims to forge an alliance between rural farmers and policymakers to create a better and transformed society. The Batkash National Farmers Forum and Cooperative Multipurpose Society has since grown into a community of over 300,000 lead mobilizer farmers across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Mr. Tedheke has also contributed significantly to the discourse on agricultural challenges in Nigeria through his writings. His substantial articles highlight the realities and challenges of agriculture in Nigeria and propose solutions to these issues. Retson Tedheke advocates for efficient rural productivity as a transformative force for the Nigerian economy, emphasizing the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and community empowerment.
Part of his solution is the Agbado Rain initiative, which focuses on creating a replica model of sustainable farm estates across Nigeria. This model aims to systematically return agricultural policy formulation to the farmers, recognizing them as the critical stakeholders. He has proposed that tertiary institutions with vast lands across the country should be transformed into productive fields. Furthermore, he advocates for supporting rural smallholder farmers, as well as their medium and larger-scale counterparts, through subsidies and an affordable, available, manageable, open, and transparent loan scheme to enhance productivity.
Retson Tedheke is also the founder of Agbatoken AgTech Limited and the CEO of Agbadovolution Technologies Limited. These new initiatives have strategically combined to create Agbatoken, which leverages blockchain technology to raise patient and productive capital for real farmers. This approach allows farmers to focus solely on food production, providing them with the necessary resources and financial support to improve their yields and contribute to national food security.
Through his innovative and forward-thinking initiatives, Retson Tedheke continues to champion the cause of efficient rural productivity and sustainable agricultural practices. His efforts are not only transforming local communities but also paving the way for a more robust and self-sufficient Nigerian economy.
He is @RetsonTedheke01 across social media channels.
