He turned fertilizer into a force for national renewal.
The Farmer’s Executive
Few Nigerian entrepreneurs embody the spirit of self-reliance and nation-building like Thomas Etuh, Chairman of Mikap Group and Fertilizers and Inputs Suppliers of Nigeria (FEPSAN).
From modest beginnings in the Middle Belt to leading one of Africa’s most transformative agribusiness revolutions, Etuh has shown that private enterprise—anchored on vision and integrity—can feed both people and prosperity.
Under his watch, fertilizer has ceased to be a luxury item or a political tool; it has become a symbol of empowerment for millions of smallholder farmers across Nigeria.
“Agriculture is not just business,” he says. “It is the foundation of our national security.”
Feeding a Nation, One Reform at a Time
When Etuh became a central figure in Nigeria’s fertilizer ecosystem, the sector was chaotic—dominated by middlemen, riddled with fraud, and distant from the real farmer.
Through relentless advocacy and partnership with the federal government, Etuh helped design and execute the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), which revolutionised local blending, lowered costs, and created direct access for farmers.
The result? From fewer than 10 functional blending plants in 2016, Nigeria now boasts over 70 operating plants—each one a hub of employment, production, and rural revival.
Etuh’s Mikap Group and FEPSAN network together have helped deliver over 50 million bags of NPK fertilizer nationwide, cutting dependence on imports and saving the country billions in foreign exchange.
Championing Local Production and Value Chains
Etuh’s vision extends beyond fertilizer. He believes in building agricultural value chains end-to-end—from input to yield, from farmer to market.
Through Mikap Nigeria Limited, he has invested in fertilizer blending, crop nutrition, logistics, and warehousing, ensuring that the benefits of agriculture reach every level of the economy.
His commitment has birthed partnerships with state governments, cooperatives, and micro-finance institutions, opening credit windows for small farmers who once lacked access to finance.
In every state where his projects operate, livelihoods rise, youth find purpose, and women gain economic voice.
The Numbers that Feed Hope
Over 50 million fertilizer bags distributed nationwide
70+ blending plants revived or newly operational
Hundreds of thousands of farmers reached directly
Tens of thousands of jobs created along the fertilizer value chain
Billions in foreign-exchange savings achieved through local production
Each figure represents not only output, but impact—measurable improvement in the lives of Nigerians.
From FEPSAN to National Policy
As President of the Fertilizers and Inputs Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), Etuh has been the voice and conscience of the sector.
He led the push for local sourcing of raw materials, ensuring that Nigeria’s limestone, urea, and phosphate industries became key contributors to fertilizer formulation.
He also championed quality-control protocols that have drastically reduced substandard and adulterated products. Farmers now receive fertilizer blends suited to specific soil and crop types—science replacing speculation.
Through consistent dialogue with policymakers, Etuh helped shape Nigeria’s National Fertilizer Quality Control Act, now regarded as a model regulatory framework for sub-Saharan Africa.
Beyond Business: Empowering Communities
Etuh’s sense of purpose extends to philanthropy and human development. Through the Thomas Etuh Foundation, he supports education, healthcare, and youth entrepreneurship across Kogi, Benue, and Nasarawa states.
He has endowed scholarships for indigent students, sponsored agricultural extension training, and funded small-scale processing facilities for women cooperatives.
In 2024, his Foundation launched the Green Rural Initiative, which provides start-up kits—fertilizer, seedlings, and training—to 5,000 new farmers annually. The initiative embodies his conviction that the prosperity of cities depends on the productivity of villages.
A Leader Rooted in Values
Soft-spoken but strategic, Etuh is known for his meticulous planning, quiet philanthropy, and unwavering belief in partnerships.
Colleagues describe him as a man who negotiates with empathy but executes with precision—a combination that has earned him trust across government, finance, and rural communities alike.
Educated at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and trained in executive programmes locally and abroad, Etuh brings intellectual depth to a sector often dismissed as low-tech. His board memberships span manufacturing, finance, and development, yet he remains most passionate about the soil—the original factory of wealth.
Recognition Beyond Borders
Under Etuh’s guidance, Nigeria’s fertilizer industry has become a continental success story. Regional bodies like the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) have cited Nigeria as a model of private-sector–led agricultural transformation.
He has received numerous awards for entrepreneurship, national productivity, and agricultural leadership—but for Etuh, the real reward lies in every harvest that tells a story of restored dignity.
