Nigeria and Africa have recorded another groundbreaking milestone on the global innovation stage as Dr. Akpem Terese Shadrach, founder of Vet Konect, emerged as Second Place Winner at the Inaugural World Food Prize Foundation’s Innovate for Impact Challenge Finals held in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
The competition, organized by the World Food Prize Foundation, is designed to identify and support young innovators whose transformative solutions are reshaping the future of global food and agricultural systems. This year’s event attracted over 400 applications from 65 countries, with three exceptional finalists selected to compete at the prestigious Borlaug Dialogue in Iowa – a gathering often described as the “Davos of global agriculture.”
Dr. Shadrach’s innovation, Vet Konect, is a digital platform that connects livestock farmers and pet owners to verified veterinary professionals, ensuring timely access to animal healthcare, improving productivity, and strengthening food security across Africa. The platform’s impact-driven model has already reached thousands of farmers and veterinarians across Nigeria, bridging the gap between rural communities and essential animal health services.
For his outstanding innovation and social impact, Dr. Shadrach was awarded a $10,000 prize to scale his work and expand Vet Konect’s reach to underserved farming communities across Africa.
> “This victory is not about me alone – it’s about Africa’s resilient innovators who believe that sustainable solutions can come from within,” said Dr. Shadrach. “Vet Konect is proof that technology, when driven by purpose, can change the face of animal health, food security, and livelihoods across our continent.”
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 marks a defining moment for African innovation and youth-led agricultural transformation.
A Mandela Washington Fellow, World Food Prize Pioneer, and multi-award-winning veterinarian and social entrepreneur, Dr. Akpem Terese Shadrach has devoted his career to building sustainable agricultural ecosystems. Through Vet Konect and his social enterprise Mobovet Nigeria Ltd, he has empowered over 40,000 Nigerian youths through training in digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and employability, while driving inclusive livestock development and poverty reduction.
His journey from Benue State, Nigeria, popularly known as the Food Basket of the Nation to the global stage in Iowa reflects the transformative power of African resilience, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership.
The Vet Konect team expresses gratitude to partners, supporters, and well-wishers worldwide whose prayers and encouragement have been instrumental to this success.
> “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.”
🌐 Learn more: www.vetkonect.com
