By Esther Onyegbula

In a bold move to industrialise agriculture and uplift smallholder farmers in South-West Nigeria, the BATN Foundation has partnered with SWAgCo, the agribusiness arm of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, to launch a ₦65 million maize production project in Ekiti State.

The initiative, unveiled at Odu’a Investment Company Limited’s 43rd Annual General Meeting on May 15, forms a key component of SWAgCo’s broader ₦10 billion agribusiness joint venture aimed at unlocking the region’s agricultural and economic potential.

Currently underway at the Oke-Ako agribusiness hub, the maize project includes a ₦32 million revolving grant and is designed to support 100 smallholder farmers with access to credit, quality farm inputs, agronomic training, and structured markets. The scheme seeks to boost productivity, enhance rural incomes, and encourage farmer cooperatives in the region.

“This partnership is a bold step toward industrialising agriculture and uplifting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who form the backbone of our food systems,” said Mr. Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of the BATN Foundation. “By combining resources and expertise, we aim to strengthen local value chains and create long-term economic opportunities for rural communities.”

The collaboration reflects a growing trend of public-private initiatives focused on sustainable agricultural development and inclusive rural empowerment. With the maize program serving as a pilot, both BATN Foundation and SWAgCo expressed optimism about scaling the model across the region.

“This is more than a funding injection,” said Dr. Theo Adewale Onadeko, CEO of SWAgCo. “It is a systems-level intervention to industrialise agriculture and create value that benefits the entire South-West region—from farmers to consumers.”

Present at the MoU signing were key stakeholders including Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Group Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited; Mrs. Folusho Olaniyan, Group Independent Director; Halimat Shuaibu, Executive Director of BATN Foundation; and state government representatives from across the South-West.

The partnership is aligned with BATN Foundation’s broader mission to empower smallholder farmers, strengthen food systems, and promote agricultural sustainability. As further joint ventures take root under SWAgCo’s initiative, stakeholders expect to see more transformational projects emerge across the region.