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FOCUS: CEOs Setting the Agenda for Nigeria’s Digital Economy
In an exclusive interview, Johnson Oyeniyi, CEO of Flexify Solutions and a leading figure in the tech industry, discusses the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) across various sectors of the economy. With a particular focus on addressing challenges in education and food security, Oyeniyi highlights his company’s ground-breaking AI-powered solution: ‘CyberAgric.’ This innovative platform is designed to revolutionize Nigerian farming by leveraging AI to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure food sustainability. Oyeniyi shares his insights with Anthony Nwosu.
Can you provide insights into Flexify Solutions’ journey in the information technology (IT) sector, particularly regarding AI solutions in Nigeria?
Flexify Solutions’ journey in the IT sector has been characterized by significant strides, especially in deploying AI and mobile app solutions within Nigeria. Since our inception, we’ve been committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to address critical challenges and foster innovation in the Nigerian market.
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Through relentless innovation, a commitment to excellence, and strategic partnerships, such as our collaboration with Cybermate Technologies, a company I am also a founding member, we’ve steadily positioned ourselves as a prominent player in the Nigerian IT landscape. Our journey is fuelled by a passion for transformative technology and a commitment to driving positive change in communities worldwide.
As our footprint expanded, we expanded our operations globally, becoming registered in the United Kingdom and looking ahead, we’re poised to venture into the American market with cutting-edge AI solutions in 2025.
“By tailoring CyberAgric to these crops, we are empowering these small-scale farmers with a powerful tool that can significantly improve their crop management practices, enhance productivity, and ultimately contribute to their economic well-being and food security” – Johnson Oyeniyi
Could you elaborate on how Flexify Solutions introduced and established solutions like FlexKids, FlexFit360, Healthify, and FlexSuite in the Nigerian market?
Our approach involved extensive research to understand the local culture and specific pain points. For example, recognizing the demand for quality educational resources, we developed FlexKids in collaboration with Nigerian educators. This user-centric design approach led to swift success, with FlexKids earning the “Teacher Approved” badge from Google within its first month of launch.
Building on this momentum, we addressed the critical need for health and wellness solutions with FlexFit360 and Healthify. These offerings resonated strongly with health-conscious Nigerians, garnering significant user engagement and trust. Our commitment to meeting the needs of Nigerian businesses led to the creation of FlexSuite, a comprehensive business management platform designed to enhance efficiency and competitiveness. Throughout our journey as a firm, we remained dedicated to user-centric design and forged strategic partnerships with local experts, ensuring our solutions resonated with the unique needs of the Nigerian market.
As one of your flagship solutions, could you explain how the AI-powered agritech solution, CyberAgric, addresses Nigeria’s food security challenges?
CyberAgric, developed in partnership with Cybermate Technologies, directly tackles food security challenges by leveraging AI and mobile technology. Its advanced disease detection capabilities, such as early detection of Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) in cassava leaves within the first two weeks of infection thereby enabling farmers to implement timely intervention measures, safeguarding crop yields and food supply. By utilizing smartphone cameras, farmers can capture images of their crops and receive real-time analysis and recommendations, putting advanced agricultural technology literally at their fingertips. Additionally, CyberAgric serves as an educational platform, empowering farmers with the latest agricultural best practices and resources.
What led to the decision to focus specifically on maize and cassava farmers with CyberAgric?
Our collaboration with Cybermate Technologies ensured that CyberAgric was tailored to the unique needs of Nigerian farmers. We started with cassava modules and after wide consultations we decided to add Maize (corn) to it. Maize and cassava were chosen due to their significance as staple crops in Nigeria’s agricultural economy and their susceptibility to devastating diseases. By targeting these two crops, our aim is to have a direct and significant impact on securing the nation’s food supply and supporting the livelihoods of a large segment of the farming community. CyberAgric’s advanced disease detection capabilities, leveraging AI and image recognition, are especially valuable in combating these specific crop diseases, enabling early intervention and containment measures.
Furthermore, maize and cassava are widely cultivated by small-scale farmers across Nigeria, who often lack access to advanced agricultural technologies and resources. By tailoring CyberAgric to these crops, we are empowering these small-scale farmers with a powerful tool that can significantly improve their crop management practices, enhance productivity, and ultimately contribute to their economic well-being and food security.
Considering internet connectivity challenges and the presence of illiterate farmers, how does Flexify Solutions ensure accessibility to its solutions for all stakeholders?
Addressing connectivity and literacy challenges is crucial to ensuring accessibility. CyberAgric is designed to function offline, allowing farmers to use it without internet access. We prioritize a user-friendly interface that is intuitive and easy to navigate, even for farmers with limited technological literacy. The app is designed with clear visuals, simple instructions, and local language support, enabling farmers to understand and utilize its features effectively. We also understand that adopting new technologies can be challenging, especially for farmers who may have low literacy levels or limited exposure to digital tools. To address this, we are deploying a team of field agents and agriculture extension workers who will provide hands-on training and support to farmers in their local communities. These agents will guide farmers through the app’s features, demonstrate its usage, and assist with any queries or difficulties they may encounter.
We are also collaborating with local farmer cooperatives, community organizations, and agricultural extension services to leverage their existing relationships with farmers and their understanding of the local context. These partnerships will facilitate knowledge dissemination, training, and adoption of our solutions, ensuring they reach even the most remote and marginalized farming communities.
For illiterate farmers, is there provision for language diversity in accessing and utilizing your solutions?
Yes, addressing language diversity and catering to illiterate farmers is a crucial aspect of our approach. We understand that language barriers and literacy levels can be significant obstacles in the adoption and effective utilization of this app. To ensure accessibility for all farmers, we have implemented a multi-language support, offering interfaces and voice prompts in various local languages commonly spoken in Nigerian farming communities, such as Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. This feature allows farmers to navigate the app, receive instructions, and interpret results in their native tongues, removing language barriers and promoting better understanding.
