By Damilola Ogunsakin

What began as a kitchen experiment with a “toy dehydrator” has grown into one of Nigeria’s most innovative agribusinesses. Adeola Balogun, an accountant turned entrepreneur, is revolutionizing food preservation in Nigeria through freeze drying – a method she believes is the future of food processing across Africa.

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Balogun explained the science behind freeze drying and how it preserves both the structure and nutritional value of food products. “Unlike dehydration, freeze drying retains the full nutrients and structure. Once rehydrated, you can hardly tell the difference between fresh and freeze-dried,” she said.

With this method, her company is able to buy fruits like strawberries, mangoes, and pineapples in bulk during their peak seasons, flash freeze them, and process them throughout the year. This not only ensures availability but also reduces post-harvest waste and boosts local agricultural value chains.

Balogun has taken it a step further by innovating around traditional Nigerian dishes. “We created the first of its kind freeze dried pepper soup with protein inside. Just add hot water, no boiling or cooking needed. You can eat it anywhere with rice, yam, or bread,” she proudly shared.

Her business has also developed freeze-dried egg powder, offering whole eggs, egg whites, and yolks in powdered form. Other innovative products include cashew fruit powder, agbalumo powder, and more all sourced and processed in Nigeria.

Balogun’s team is currently working with the Mass Tech Foundation and hosting students from across Nigeria, exposing them to agro-processing technology and entrepreneurship.

She sees this exposure as crucial in repositioning agriculture as a viable and modern career path. “The youth are our future. If we don’t change the face of agriculture, they’ll continue to see it as something for the old. But when they see the technology, the innovation – it becomes exciting,” she emphasized.

Watch the full interview video above to hear more about Adeola Balogun’s journey, innovations, and vision for transforming African agriculture.