Nicole N’diaye

When the Black Institute and its sister organization, The Black Institute Group, presented their Trailblazer Award for the Social Equity and Racial Justice Project to Medgar Evers College alumna Nicole N’diaye, it was driven by her work as a hemp humanitarian and environmental advocate who believes in sustainable agriculture and energy, all while giving back to the community.

Having graduated from Medgar Evers College in 2016 with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business Management, N’diaye went on to earn a Master’s with Distinction in the articulated accelerated Executive Master’s Program at Long Island University Brooklyn in 2017. The following year, N’diaye was awarded a license to grow industrial hemp, which allowed her to launch NAHE LLC, her family-owned Agri-Grow business based in The Bronx. Given how labor-intensive hemp farming is, N’diaye developed a relationship with Amish farmers in upstate New York to use both their land and labor to fuel her company’s growth. The Amish own the land and farm the crop while she provides materials such as the hemp seeds for the plants.

N’diaye’s decision to develop a relationship with the Amish is based on her knowledge that working with them promotes sustainable best practices given that they are known for their farm expertise and unique approach to regenerative farming. Furthermore, seeds were donated from a different source further improving the sustainability of this venture. With this approach, NAHE LLC made safe consumable hemp products be its goal.

N’diaye has since gone on to found Ogam Inc. and Bossiee Budz LLC, while also managing more than 10 farms and an equal number of licenses with hemp/cannabis in the State of New York. She is also the coordinator of the Bathgate Community Garden and a member of Cooke’s Community Farm in The Bronx. At both locations, she manages several beds of fruits and veggies. The food is grown and donated to local farmers markets. NAHE LLC has hosted and sponsored annual events using its outdoor space. These initiatives were well structured around small groups to educate and provide resources to underserved communities of color.

The Medgar Evers College alum is passionate about advocating for environmental justice and giving back to the community. She joined Black Farmers United and sits on the Social Equity & Cannabis Committees. In March 2022, N’diaye was appointed the chair of the New York City committee at NYCGPA (New York Growers & Process Association).