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Nigeria and Africa have etched a new milestone on the global innovation stage as Dr. Akpem Terese Shadrach, founder of Vet Konect, secured second place and a $10,000 prize at the inaugural World Food Prize Foundation’s Innovate for Impact Challenge Finals held in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 22, 2025. This achievement marks a defining moment for African innovation and youth-led agricultural transformation.
The competition, designed to identify and support young innovators whose transformative solutions are reshaping global food and agricultural systems, attracted over 400 applications from 65 countries. From this pool, three exceptional finalists were selected to compete at the prestigious Borlaug Dialogue in Iowa—a gathering often dubbed the “Davos of global agriculture.” Dr. Shadrach’s second-place win highlights his pioneering work with Vet Konect, a digital platform connecting livestock farmers and pet owners to verified veterinary professionals.
Vet Konect ensures timely access to animal healthcare, boosts productivity, and strengthens food security across Africa. The platform’s impact-driven model has already reached thousands of farmers and veterinarians in Nigeria, bridging the gap between rural communities and essential animal health services. Through his social enterprise, Mobovet Nigeria Ltd, Dr. Shadrach has empowered over 40,000 Nigerian youths through training in digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and employability, driving inclusive livestock development and poverty reduction.
Hailing from Benue state Nigeria, popularly known as the Food Basket of the Nation—Dr. Shadrach’s journey to Iowa reflects the transformative power of African resilience, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership. A Mandela Washington Fellow, World Food Prize Pioneer, and multi-award-winning veterinarian and social entrepreneur, he has dedicated his career to building sustainable agricultural ecosystems.
The Vet Konect team expressed gratitude to partners, supporters, and well-wishers worldwide, whose prayers and encouragement have been instrumental to this success. Dr. Shadrach shared, “This victory is not about me alone—it’s about Africa’s resilient innovators who believe that sustainable solutions can come from within. Vet Konect is proof that technology, when driven by purpose, can change the face of animal health, food security, and livelihoods across our continent.”
Looking ahead, he added, “We hope this victory inspires a new generation of innovators across Africa and beyond to keep creating impact-driven solutions that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals and secure the world’s food future.”
As the first Nigerian and African finalist to reach the Top 3 in the history of the Innovate for Impact Challenge, Dr. Shadrach’s achievement sets a powerful example for the continent’s innovators.
