Why I set up Songhai Farm – Father Nzamujo

Nzamujo, a professor, is the founder of Songhai Farm in Porto Novo, Benin Republic. In this interview with Mannir Dan Ali, he explains the philosophy behind the farm, which has gained international recognition, and how Nigerian governments and individuals can adopt some of his strategies to improve the agricultural value chain in the country.

It’s fascinating to learn about your background — being born in Kano, but from Delta State by adoption, and now residing in Benin Republic. You started your journey in the US, studying at various universities. You hold two PhDs in different fields — electrical engineering and economics. Was this all part of your preparation to eventually put down roots in Africa and perhaps elevate its agricultural practices?

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I was always drawn to the sciences, particularly biological science, engineering and mathematics. At the University of California, we were among the first to combine the soft sciences, biological sciences, and high sciences like engineering and mathematics. I was one of the products of that experimental approach, a “guinea pig,” if you will.

I found myself in two worlds: biological sciences and engineering/mathematical sciences. Initially, I aimed to become a professor, a young man passionate about teaching, contributing to California’s research efforts. California, if it were a country, would be one of the world’s top economies. That was where scientific advancement was happening.

I didn’t want to just teach; I wanted to be part of shaping the world. I became a professor at a young age, and as a Black man, that was a significant achievement. Then, in the early ‘80s, when I had just become a professor, the drought in

Africa, from the north to the east, particularly in Ethiopia, became a major crisis. You remember the “We Are the World” and “We Are the People” campaigns.

At the time, I was in California, in Los Angeles. My initial reaction, like my brother’s, was to provide immediate relief — to distribute things from my own origin, as my father had instilled in us. He always reminded us, “You are Africans, no matter where you are, don’t forget your roots.”

But my father also challenged me. He didn’t want to just address the symptoms of poverty; he believed in tackling the root causes. I call it “symptomatic therapy” — giving money to someone in need doesn’t solve the underlying issue.

His philosophy was clear: when you feed a man today, you’re obliged to feed him tomorrow. But if you teach him how to fish, he’ll take care of himself. However, my father added a crucial point — teaching someone to fish isn’t enough if there are no fish left in the lake. You need to teach them how to grow fish before you can teach them how to fish. That was my realisation — Africa was in a dire state, and others were exploiting its remaining resources. The smart ones were capitalising on what was left, growing stronger while Africa stayed weak.

Africa remains poor today because a small, powerful minority has taken what they can without rebuilding the foundation.

When you first came, you wanted to set roots in Nigeria. Why wasn’t that possible?

I came with the intention of settling in Nigeria, specifically in Cross River State, the old Cross River State. At the time, in Cotonou, the defence advisor from Akwa Ibom State, a brigadier, saw my potential and said it could be very beneficial for our country. He introduced me to Colonel Achibong, the military governor then, and he was very interested in my work.

So, what frustrated it?

When Achibong was replaced, Princewill, from Asep, took over. He wasn’t interested in my project. I went there, and the governor was supposed to meet with me for three days but never did. He was too busy.

Then the governor of Benin Republic saw the potential in my work and encouraged me to keep going. At that time, I didn’t speak a word of French. But I told myself, “Africa is my home,” and I embraced the challenge of learning from the beginning.

Despite the difficulty, my passion kept me going. In no time, I was speaking French and working hard. My first two books were even written in French. I threw myself into the work because of my passion and what I wanted to achieve.

So, you started with just one hectare?

Yes, they gave me one hectare of land, which was part of an old government farm that had been ruined due to chemicals. It had been burned out by the Europeans, the Dutch, and the Beninese, following conventional agricultural practices.

Coming from a background in biological sciences, I could see the bigger picture — how the planet functions. Science is not just about facts; it’s about understanding nature, how it works, and using that knowledge to improve things. That’s what science and research are all about: being humble enough to look at reality and learn from it.

So, did you apply this understanding in your work?

Exactly. The soil is a living thing, and you have to take care of it and work with it.

My background in biological science, particularly in electronics, was connected to my interest in developing new tools for communication. While doing this, I also studied microorganisms, which are incredible biotechnicians. These microbes are the foundation of life, yet we often see them as a threat to be eliminated with chemicals. In fact, there are more bacteria in and on your body than there are human cells.

This understanding of biological systems, especially microorganisms, led me to realise that traditional agriculture, which treats microbes as a problem to be killed, is misguided.

At what point did you develop the model to the extent that people started coming to your farm to see how it was working?

That’s a great question. When I first started, no one believed in me. I was seen as a crazy man.

I remember when the president, Kereku, visited. It was a Saturday afternoon during the dry season, and everything around was parched. But when he arrived at Atonga, he saw that it was green. He asked, “Are you the crazy man they’re talking about?” I said, “Yes,” and he promised to come back.

When he returned, the one hectare of land was thriving — we had animals, chickens, water, fish, and crops all flourishing. That single hectare was enough to prove that even dead land could be revived.

He took notice, and soon after, he sent the Minister of Information and the National Television to film at Songhai for two weeks. That was the real turning point.

So, what you’ve created is based on your knowledge of nature and bio-mimicry — learning from and working with nature, rather than against it?

Exactly. The key is to work with nature, not fight it. Nature has so much to teach us.

I went from being an arrogant man, “homo arrogans,” to a humble scientist, “homo humilens.” When you’re humble, you learn and grow. You shed your narrow understanding of the world.

This approach to science comes from my time at the University of California, which has produced the highest number of Nobel Prizes of any university. I came from that tradition of blending biological sciences with physical sciences, physics, and engineering to create something new.

At what point did your model start attracting the attention of international organisations?

It caught their attention in a rather unexpected way. They came to us and asked about our work, and I told them, “We don’t need your money.” That shocked them.

My goal was to create a space where we were in control, in the driver’s seat. For example, the European Union wanted to fund us, but I was determined to start with my own resources, my family’s funding, to show that we were committed to the cause.

Many people start by seeking external funding. I wanted to make a statement: with the little we have, we can begin something. Let others join our project when they see what we’re doing.

In Nigeria, for example, people often talk about the World Bank Project, but I said, “No, this should be our project.” I wanted it to be something we could call our own. That’s why I named it Songhai — after the great empire. Mansa Musa, who was from Songhai, was the wealthiest person in the world at the time. When he went on pilgrimage to Egypt, he carried so much wealth that it shook the global economy for months. Africa was once strong, but we lost it.

So, at what point did Nigerians, both individuals and state governments, begin to take an interest in your model?

It was when they started visiting Songhai in Benin. They saw something there that they wanted to replicate. It became a national pride. For instance, I’ve received the highest honours, such as being a presidential adviser.

Songhai became a flagship project for the country. Whenever visitors came to Benin, they were encouraged to visit. Eventually, people began to recognise that I was from here, and they saw me as one of their own. The people who had previously rejected me were now embracing me. It’s like the story of Joseph in the Bible.

I wasn’t bitter, though. They didn’t know what they were doing, and I understood that. My mission was always to come and make a difference, and that remained in my mind.

As a result, many prominent figures started visiting, including former presidents like Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as governors like Amaechi, Shettima, Shema, Ibori, and many others. They all came to Songhai on what you could call a pilgrimage.