Segun Festus Oluwaji has been named a recipient of the 2026 Face of Africa Leadership Award for Outstanding Agricultural Innovation and Food Security Advancement. The award recognizes Oluwaji's decades-long commitment to strengthening Africa’s food systems through strategic leadership and enterprise.

Oluwaji's career spans over 35 years and includes experience in corporate finance, energy, and agribusiness. He is known for his strategic thinking and institution-building capabilities. He holds a Chemistry degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, is a qualified Chartered Accountant, and earned an MBA, providing him with a blend of scientific understanding and financial expertise.

His early career included training at Lafenwa Osiberu & Co. and roles in multinational firms affiliated with Asea Brown Boveri, where he served as Group Accountant. He later became Finance Director at SBM Group, overseeing financial operations, investments, and long-term growth strategies.

Oluwaji currently serves as the chairman of Courtyard Farms Limited, where he has championed the adoption of modern farming technologies. Rather than viewing agriculture as a traditional sector, he has worked to position it as a sophisticated, technology-enabled, and globally competitive industry.

The recognition highlights the increasing importance of innovative leadership in addressing Africa's food security challenges. Market watchers believe that Oluwaji's work at Courtyard Farms can serve as a model for other agribusinesses in Nigeria and across the continent, promoting sustainable development through strategic investment and technological advancement in the agricultural sector.