By Esther Onyegbula

In a significant stride towards empowering youth and enhancing food security, the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation has awarded ₦28.5 million in seed funding and mentorship to 18 promising agripreneurs from three top Nigerian universities.

The beneficiaries, graduates from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), University of Ilorin, and University of Ibadan, emerged through the Foundation’s 2025 Graduate Agripreneur Programme (GAP), designed to stimulate innovation, job creation, and sustainability across Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.

Each agripreneur received ₦1.5 million in cash grants, alongside tailored mentorship and technical support to accelerate the launch and scaling of ventures in sectors ranging from cassava and sorghum cultivation to beekeeping, poultry, and tomato farming.

Speaking at one of the award ceremonies, the General Manager of the BATN Foundation, Mr. Oludare Odusanya, emphasized the initiative’s long-term vision: “We are not just funding projects; we are investing in a future where agriculture becomes a vibrant space for youth innovation and economic transformation.”

At FUNAAB, nine graduates were honoured, including Habeebullahi Tijani (cassava farming), Ajibade Patience (poultry eggs), and Oke Michael (broiler production). Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Kola Adebayo, hailed the Foundation’s continued support as a “critical driver of job creation and youth empowerment through agriculture.”

In Ilorin, six agribusiness proposals won funding, with winners such as Abdulahi Ayomide (sorghum farming) and John Olumide Adeyemi (vegetables) praised for their clarity and viability. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, commended BATN Foundation for “catalyzing innovation among Nigerian graduates.”

The final leg of the award ceremonies took place at the University of Ibadan’s Faculty of Agriculture, spotlighting businesses in fish farming, livestock, and apiary operations. Awardee Khadeejah Owolabi, who pitched a meat processing venture, described the programme as “a life-changing opportunity to move from passion to enterprise.”

The 2025 GAP awards underscore BATN Foundation’s growing role in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural future through strategic partnerships with academia. Now in its fourth year, the initiative has directly impacted over 70 young entrepreneurs, positioning agriculture as a viable and profitable path for Nigeria’s youth.

According to the Foundation, the programme aligns with national development goals on food security, employment generation, and sustainable growth, leveraging private sector investment to ignite transformation in Nigeria’s agribusiness landscape.