Father Godfrey Nzamujo – The Man Behind Songhai Centre
Father Godfrey Nzamujo, director of the organic farm Centre Songhai. (Pic: AFP)
Father Godfrey Nzamujo, O.P. was born in Kano, Nigeria in 1950. He obtained his B.A. in Modern Philosophy and Mathematics, his M.A. in Theology (Creation-Centered/Evolution Option) and his PH.D. in Economic Philosophy. He further obtained a Higher Diploma in Systems Engineering as well as a M.S. in Electrical Engineering at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California, and a PH.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Service from the University of California at Irvine.
Nzamujo is the Founder and Director of the Songhai Regional Centre, established in 1985 and headquartered in Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin. He has also been a Research fellow/Professor at the University of California, Irvine, Associate Pastor, St Nicholas Catholic Church, Laguna Hills, California, and Associate Professor of Engineering at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California.
About Songhai Centre
Founded in 1985 on one hectare of land in a suburb of Porto-Novo in Benin Republic. Songhai, named after the prestigious empire West African Empire of the 14th century, is a training farm that promotes agricultural entrepreneurship and sustainable farming practices.
Songhai Farm is an integrated farm that converts waste to wealth, Biogas to produce electricity and cooking gas, production of maggot to feed fish, fertilizers very rich, fertilizers that reduce weed, Songhai commitment to excellence, Zero emission research initiative (ZERO).
Songhai Farm Centre processes many finished products (Soap, baked foods, juices, jams, syrups, animal feed etc) while other farm produce are sold in Songhai Stores and to wholesalers and retailers. Songhai Farm Centre also earns revenue through the lodging and restaurant on their ground, all built with bricks made there, featuring Songhai products.
Photo Credit: german-african-partnership.org
The Songhai Farm Objectives
Part of the aims of the Songhai Farm is to train young agricultural entrepreneurs who once established become pillars of community-capable of commanding respect and attracting the surrounding populations to the new kind of Agriculture practiced on Songhai Farms.
It also aspires to develop alternatives to help Africans stand on their feet through agricultural entrepreneurship.
In 1993, Lokossa-Kinwédji Songhai Centre was created; centers in Parakou and Savalou followed in 1999. In Nigeria, the Songhai model center at Amukpe in Delta State was created in 2002; Songhai model centers in Bunu Tai in Rivers state and Adani in Enugu State were added in 2010.
Songhai Contributions Towards Africa Development
For the African Agriculture Economy, Songhai has been successfully linking agriculture to industry and commerce. They achieve this by harnessing local resources and promoting sustainable social entrepreneurship, it has some challenges to overcome. Some of the documented challenges they have helped farmers overcome include: Land uses, access to financial capital, climatic changes, selling products at a competitive price, and organizing and facilitating farmers’ networks are issues that need to address. In the final analysis, Africa needs more Agropreneurs developing farmers’ capacity to solve her food production challenge.
