Roberta Oyedokun pivoted to agribusiness from a thriving tech career to innovate child nutrition in Nigeria.
Child malnutrition remains a significant health concern in Nigeria, where millions of children face risks of stunted growth and poor development due to inadequate diets. Among those striving to address this challenge is Roberta Oyedokun, founder and chief executive of Moppet Foods, a Nigerian children’s food company that produces cereals and porridge using locally sourced ingredients.
From technology to agribusiness
Oyedokun’s professional background is rooted in information technology. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Network Engineering and a master’s in Information Management Systems. Before entering the food sector, she worked on digital transformation projects and developed software tools, including a higher education certificate verification application reportedly endorsed by Nigeria’s National Universities Commission.
Concerns over the limited availability of natural, chemical-free options for children in Nigeria drove her transition into food production. Drawing on her personal interest in nutrition, she established Moppet Foods to provide alternatives to imported, often heavily processed, baby foods that dominate the market.
Moppet Foods uses locally grown crops and grains to produce instant cereals and porridges. The brand states that it collaborates with smallholder farmers across various regions of Nigeria, supporting local supply chains while reducing reliance on imports.
Products are available in varying packaging sizes to meet the needs of families with different income levels. With Moppet, she advocates for healthy infant nutrition through homegrown agricultural produce.
Recognition, investment, and social impact
Moppet Foods has achieved several notable milestones. In 2025, it became the first Nigerian children’s food brand to be stocked in Walmart stores across the United States. The company has also received external investment, with approximately $80,000 secured from EHA Impact Ventures and MotherFood International to expand production and strengthen its partnerships with farmers.
Beyond commercial expansion, Moppet has initiated outreach programmes aimed at raising awareness of children’s nutrition among caregivers. One such initiative, internally named the No Kid Hungry Outreach, seeks to promote better feeding practices within communities. The businesswoman believes education will be fundamental in tackling childhood malnutrition in Nigeria.
Recently, in September 2025, Oyedokun was honoured with the Outstanding Value-Adding Enterprise award at the Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) in Dakar, Senegal. She was the only Nigerian recipient in her category, joining other African entrepreneurs recognised for their work in food security and agribusiness.
The founder’s career exemplifies the growing interest among Nigerian professionals in integrating technology, agriculture, and social impact.
While challenges remain in scaling operations and effecting sustained change in child nutrition, Moppet Foods’ presence in both Nigerian and international markets marks a significant step forward in the broader debate on local innovation and healthy nutrition in children.
