From winning the prestigious first-ever OCP Farm&Fortune National Agric Quiz competition to starting his own farming venture, Sani Muhammad is sowing the seeds of a brighter future. What started as a school contest has become a purpose-driven journey.

Born in a rural village in Adamawa State, Nigeria, he aspires to become a veterinarian and reshape his community’s agricultural landscape. This 21-year-old, currently studying Animal Science at Adamawa State University, is cultivating a future rooted in agriculture and veterinary care. In this interview, Sani reflects on the competition that sparked his passion, the mindset that keeps him grounded, and his hope to solve real problems in his community.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Sani Muhammad. I’m 21 years old and I’m currently a student at Adamawa State University, where I study Animal Science.

Let’s talk about the OCP competition. Before participating, have you always wanted to study Animal Science?

Yes, I always wanted to study Animal Science. In my community, there are very few veterinary doctors, and that motivated me. I wanted to become a veterinarian so I can help people take better care of their animals. The competition made me see agriculture as more than just a subject, it became something I want to pursue as a career.

Did you ever think you were going to win the competition?

No, I never thought something like that would happen.

So, why did you join? What was that journey like for you?

I was still in secondary school. Our school management told us about the competition. I was performing well academically, maybe not 100%, but I was among the top students. We had an internal screening at the school level, and I came first. Yahya came second. So we were selected to represent our school and eventually, our state, at the national level.

At what point during the competition did you start believing you could win? Or were you in doubt throughout?

I had doubts, but from day one, I kept telling myself I was already a winner. Just being one of the 32 students selected nationwide was a huge opportunity. Whether I win or not, I saw myself as successful because of the experience alone.

I love that mindset. So, how did you feel when you and your partner were announced as the winners?

It was amazing, especially considering that there were so many brilliant students from different states. There’s a perception that students from the North are less intelligent, so proving that wrong and winning made it even more meaningful.

Did you gain admission into university immediately after secondary school?

Yes, I did.

Have you applied anything you learned from the competition to real life?

Yes. I come from a village with a lot of unused land, so I invested the prize money in farming.

What exactly did you do with the prize money?

The organisers said the prize was for scholarship, but I used the money to start farming instead of keeping it idle.

What advice would you give to young people interested in entering similar competitions?

Focus. Make your books more important than your friends. It’s not just about agriculture; it includes general knowledge too. And general knowledge can’t be learned in one day. Read newspapers and stay updated on national events. Reading your textbooks is good, but you must know a little about everything. That’s how you win.

So, your farming business started after the competition. Tell us about it.

Yes. I have a plot of land, and I practice mixed farming. I grow maize, guinea corn, and beans during the rainy season.

Now that you’re in school, who manages your farm?

My elder brother manages it. He isn’t in school and oversees the farm while I’m away.

How is the farm doing? Any challenges?

The main challenge is rainfall. Our yield drops if the rain doesn’t come on time or in the right quantity. Aside from that, we manage pests with pesticides, so our major concern is the weather.

Why did you choose those specific crops?

Because I’m a student, I needed crops that are relatively easy to manage. My brother also has his own farm, so I didn’t want to burden him too much. Crops like maize, guinea corn, and beans don’t require as much supervision. 

What’s the size of your farm?

Honestly, I don’t know the exact size. It’s part of my father’s land; he gave me a portion.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about agriculture you’ve heard?

Many people think agriculture is for those who don’t know what they’re doing. When I tell people I study animal science, they look down on it, unlike other fields like disaster management. But without agriculture, we’d all struggle—food is life.

You are definitely right. Are you focused on feeding your community, or do you have bigger ambitions?

Right now, I’m doing small-scale farming because I’m a student with limited resources. In the future, I want to go commercial, starting with rice alongside maize, to feed my community and, eventually, contribute to Nigeria’s food security.

Rice farming is ambitious! What steps are you taking to make that happen?

I’m learning as much as possible in school and networking with people from different regions, like during the OCP competition. But in Adamawa, access to loans or support is tough unless you have connections, so I’m exploring ways to connect with organisations.

That’s a real challenge. Are there organisations in Adamawa supporting farmers?

Not in my area. You can get bank loans, but government support often goes to non-farmers with connections. Many organisations advertise help online, but we don’t see it locally.

We hope the right stakeholders are noting that issue. But personally, how do you plan to support farmers who don’t have your educational opportunities?

I’m learning about opportunities like grants or farm inputs by mingling with people at school and competitions. I want to share this knowledge with local farmers, maybe through workshops, to help them access resources and improve their farms.

Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?

People say “man proposes, God disposes,” but I pray that I’ll be 70 to 80% successful in the next five years, even if not 100%, among my peers, Insha Allah.

Amen to that! So, what’s the plan after school? Will you grow your business and career together?

Yes. I chose Animal Science because I genuinely love the field. I want to become a veterinarian, either work with the government or run my own practice. I can even start a small veterinary hospital and serve my community with the knowledge I’m gaining.

 If you were president for a day, what would you change about the agricultural sector?

I’d ensure that government inputs like fertiliser loans actually reach real farmers. Many people collect them just to resell, leaving the real farmers out. My first priority would be verifying that the recipients are true farmers, the end users, not middlemen.

Thank you for sharing your story with AgroCentric, Sani. We’ll keep in touch and share opportunities on our website to support your journey and other farmers.

Thank you for having me!