Ms. Josephine Okot
Managing Director, Victoria Seeds Ltd
Josephine Okot is the Founder and Managing Director of Victoria Seeds Ltd, established for disseminating certified seed to small holder farmers. She has steered it from a struggling start-up to Uganda’s leading seed house, which is evident in the 2018 Access to Seed Index ranking for Eastern and Southern Africa #6. Okot’s outstanding work has been recognized through numerous national and international accolades. Okot was the 2007 YARA Prize laureate awarded in recognition of her work to reverse Africa’s declining agricultural productivity and standing as an outstanding example of African entrepreneurs willing to take risks and break new ground. Honoree of the 2009 Oslo Business for Peace Award in recognition of her work in promoting socially responsible and ethical business practice in an outstanding way. She was the African Woman of the Year for her outstanding work in supporting, promoting, and mentoring women and demonstrating qualities required to succeed in business at the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship in 2011. Okot presently serves on the Board of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the Board of Uganda Development Corporation, with the mandate to industrialize Uganda, and Board Chair of Soroti Fruit Ltd, a subsidiary of Uganda Development Corporation.