BATN Foundation set to empower young agripreneurs with N27m
The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has announced a fresh commitment to fostering youth-driven agribusiness innovation through its 2025 Graduate Agripreneurship Programme (GAP). The initiative, set to provide N27 million in grants and access to land resources, underscores the increasing role of private-sector-led interventions in addressing Nigeria’s agricultural and employment challenges.
Through its Youth Empowerment & Entrepreneurship Programme (YEEP), BATNF is partnering with three leading agricultural institutions—Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), University of Ibadan (UI), and University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)—to equip young university graduates with the skills and resources needed to build profitable and sustainable agribusinesses.
According to Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of BATNF, selected participants will benefit from mentorship by industry experts, intensive capacity-building training, and funding to support their agribusiness ventures. The programme’s focus on youth engagement aims to curb unemployment while strengthening Nigeria’s food security by enabling young graduates to establish scalable enterprises across different agricultural value chains, including poultry production.
The impact of GAP is evident in past success stories like that of Mary Jimba, a FUNAAB graduate, who leveraged the programme’s funding and training to expand her poultry business, create jobs, and contribute to local economic growth. With an application deadline of March 3, 2025, Odusanya urges young Nigerians to take advantage of this opportunity to join a new wave of agripreneurs driving innovation and sustainability in the sector.
Source- Business Day
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The BATNF Graduate Agripreneurship Programme (GAP) presents significant opportunities for Nigeria’s agri-food ecosystem. Here’s why stakeholders—from policymakers to agribusiness investors—should take note:
- Bridging the Finance Gap for Young Agripreneurs
Access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers to youth participation in agribusiness. With N27 million in grants, GAP is providing crucial seed funding that enables young entrepreneurs to develop viable agribusiness ventures without the burden of high-interest loans. This is a model that other institutions and private investors can replicate to scale youth-led agricultural enterprises. - Strengthening the Agricultural Value Chain
By targeting university graduates, particularly those from institutions with strong agricultural research backgrounds, GAP ensures that beneficiaries bring technical knowledge into real-world agribusiness operations. The focus on enterprises like poultry farming enhances productivity and value addition across the supply chain, from feed production to market distribution. - Enhancing Food Security and Employment
Nigeria faces significant challenges in food production and youth unemployment. Programmes like GAP address both by training young people to establish agribusinesses that can boost food supply while also creating jobs. The long-term impact is a more resilient agricultural sector that can reduce import dependency and drive rural development. - Encouraging Private Sector-Led Interventions
GAP highlights the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in agricultural development. As BATNF demonstrates, strategic investments in agripreneurship can deliver tangible social and economic benefits. Other agribusiness firms and financial institutions should explore similar initiatives to amplify the impact.
Key Takeaways for Stakeholders
- Agribusiness investors should monitor GAP beneficiaries as potential partners or suppliers.
- Policymakers can draw insights from the programme’s structure to inform youth-focused agricultural policies.
- Universities can expand collaboration with private-sector players to enhance agripreneurship training.
- Young graduates looking to enter agribusiness should explore such funding and mentorship opportunities to scale their ventures.
- With the growing need for sustainable agricultural solutions in Nigeria, the GAP initiative represents a vital step toward a more vibrant and inclusive agribusiness sector.
