Femi Royal
Footprints
Stages, pages and communities across nearly 40 countries where I have shared ideas and put in the work on digital government, youth employability and digital agriculture.
On stage, around the worldKeynotes and speeches
I routinely deliver keynotes and speeches on my areas of expertise, wherever the conversation needs it.
United Kingdom · 2026Navigating politics, personas and agility in public sector business analysis
How business analysts handle complex stakeholder relationships and organisational politics to deliver better public services.
16 January 2026Digital agriculture for African youth: are we ready?
Keynote speaker at the Youth Assembly session, as Senior Advisor, Dev-Afrique.
16 October 2025Bridging Policy and Innovation: Youth at the Forefront of Agri-Food Transformation
Panellist at the World Food Forum 2025 Nigeria Chapter side event.
Houston, USA · October 2023Advancing tech adoption for sustainable trade and export in Africa
Keynote on how technology can help African businesses trade and export sustainably.
St Andrews, Scotland · March 2023How autonomous robots can bridge labour shortages in agriculture
Making the case for robotics and automation as an answer to labour gaps on African farms.
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt · November 2022Blue Badge delegate with the Walker Institute, University of Reading
Part of the University of Reading’s Walker Institute delegation at the UN Climate Change Conference.
Lagos, Nigeria · June 2019The case for blockchain disruption of agricultural commodity trading
How blockchain can bring transparency and trust to the way agricultural commodities are traded.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia · November 2018Digitising the agricultural value chain
Arguing for digital tools across the agricultural value chain, from farm to market.
TEDxTechnology, agriculture and the potential of young people
Two TEDx talks on technology in agriculture.
TEDxFUNAAB: Blockchain technology and how to help the farmer make profit »
TEDxIbara: Technology and Smart Agriculture »
Writing, research and interviewsInsights
Papers, opinion pieces and features on technology, agriculture and the opportunities they create for young people.
ThisDay · Interview · January 2026From Lagos to global impact: on AgriTech, service and leadership
An interview on my path from Lagos to founding MyFarmBase Africa, my international work, and what leadership and service mean to me.
agriRxiv · CABI Digital Library · 2026Research preprint on agriRxiv
A research paper published on CABI’s agriRxiv preprint server.
Young African Leaders Journal of Development · 2025Robotics in agriculture: challenges and opportunities for net-zero, a case for Africa
How robotics and AI can help farming meet rising food demand while tackling climate change, water shortages and pests.
BusinessDay · Daily Trust · Op-edYouths will find agriculture attractive with technology
Why digital tools are the key to drawing young people into farming and agribusiness.
Vanguard · Feature · April 2018Youth and agribusiness
On the opportunities agribusiness offers young Nigerians.
Young African Leaders Journal of Development · 2018Leveraging technology to achieve food security in Nigeria
A review of how Nigerian innovators are using technology to modernise farming, and how government and business can work together.
Videos and more
- Inside Blockchain: Decentralized Commodity Exchange for Emerging Markets — CryptoTV+ · Video
- Innovation in Agriculture: interview with OGTV — Video
- Blockchain technology for agriculture — CryptoTV+ · June 2018
- Femi Royal on technology and smart agriculture — NDLink
RecognitionAwards
2023Global Talent endorsement in AgriTech
2018Excellence Award in AgricTech
2018Class of 2018 selection
Robert Bosch Stiftung Fellowship
Backing the next innovatorsJudging and mentoring
2026Lead Judge
June 2024Judge
March 2021Mentor
February 2018Judge
Close to homeVolunteering
School Governor
Helping set direction and hold leadership to account for a local school.
Parish Councillor
Representing residents and shaping decisions in my local community.
Duck race fundraising
Organising community fundraising for good causes.
NIDO AGS
Supporting the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation community.
What I have builtInitiatives
MyFarmBase Africa
A youth-led AgriTech social enterprise I co-founded to help smallholder farmers work smarter. It supports a community of over 12,000 young people with opportunities in agri-tech entrepreneurship and employment, including through the AgriTech Lab.
Upsurge Youth Network
A network helping young people aged 16 to 35 in Reading and the wider Berkshire area build stronger futures across three foundations: work, wellbeing and home.
Upsurge Foundation
A youth-led nonprofit raising young, value-driven African leaders through leadership development, education, digital skills and community empowerment.
MyFarmBase Africa in the press
- #BellaNaijaMCM: helping farmers work smarter with MyFarmBase Africa — BellaNaija · December 2018
- Boundless Opportunity: grant for the MyFarmBase AgriTech Lab — The Pollination Project · October 2019
- MyFarmBase Africa hosts agripreneurs and enthusiasts at AgriTech Lab 2019 — YNaija · 2019
- The Future Project supports MyFarmBase Africa in hosting agropreneurs at AgriTech Lab 2019 — The Future Project · May 2019
- Nigeria must embrace e-extension and digital advisory services to boost food security — Naija News · September 2021
- Experts harp on smart farming to boost economy — The Guardian Nigeria
Life outside workBeyond work
Travelling
Meeting people and seeing ideas at work in new places.
Horse racing
A day at the races is time well spent.
Tennis
On court whenever the diary allows.
