By Esther Onyegbula

The BATN Foundation has empowered more than 1,500 women across Nigeria through targeted agricultural initiatives aimed at strengthening food systems, expanding rural livelihoods and promoting female participation in agribusiness.

The Foundation disclosed this in a statement to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day, highlighting the growing role of young women as innovators and entrepreneurs within Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

According to the Foundation, despite their significant potential, many young women in agriculture continue to face structural barriers, including limited access to finance, inadequate technical training and restricted opportunities to scale viable enterprises.

To address these challenges, the organisation said it has placed youth empowerment, particularly for women, at the centre of its agricultural development strategy through targeted capacity building and enterprise development programmes.

Among its key initiatives are the Farmers for the Future (F4F) Award and the Graduate Agripreneur Programme (GAP), which provide young Nigerians with entrepreneurial training, mentorship and financial support to establish sustainable agribusinesses.

The Foundation revealed that women account for 53.57 per cent of beneficiaries under the Farmers for the Future Award and have received 60.8 per cent of the total grants disbursed.
It noted that the deliberate allocation was designed to ensure female agripreneurs have meaningful access to the capital and support systems required to launch and expand their businesses.

Several beneficiaries have already recorded notable success.
One of them, Adebisi Opeyemi, founder of Pemnia Wellness, operates a nutrition-focused enterprise that processes Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato into healthy food products aimed at improving dietary health.

Similarly, Edeh Felicitas, founder of Nuriswell Foods, runs a food processing and packaging company that produces ready-to-cook meal combinations designed to promote convenient and healthy eating.

Another beneficiary, Mbah Chinaza Naomi, founder of Nana’s Delight Foodstuff, was able to acquire manufacturing machinery for spice production after receiving the Farmers for the Future Award, enabling her to expand operations and meet increasing demand for indigenous spices locally and internationally.

Under the Graduate Agripreneur Programme, beneficiaries also receive enterprise training, mentorship and start-up capital to scale their agricultural ventures.
Among them is Owolabi Khadijah, founder of Sweet Ville, an enterprise that processes meat into value-added products such as kilishi, shredded meat snacks and spice blends.

Another beneficiary, Olurunmaiye Cynthia, founder of Mojola Farm, is expanding her broiler production business after gaining access to capital and infrastructure support.
Speaking on the initiative, Oludare Odusanya said empowering young women in agriculture remains one of the most effective strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s food systems while creating sustainable economic opportunities.

“Women, particularly young women, are not peripheral to agriculture in Nigeria; they are central to its future. When we equip them with the right skills, resources and opportunities, we are not just supporting individuals; we are strengthening the entire agricultural value chains,” he said.

Odusanya added that access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers women face in agriculture, noting that providing grants, mentorship and enterprise support helps young women build successful agribusinesses capable of creating employment and improving community livelihoods.

Beyond youth-focused initiatives, the Foundation also supports women in rural communities through agricultural interventions aimed at improving productivity and income generation.

In Bauchi and Akwa Ibom states, more than 500 women benefited from a poultry enterprise initiative designed to provide sustainable income while improving household nutrition.

The Foundation said its interventions contribute to improved household incomes, enhanced food security and stronger economic resilience within rural communities.

It added that its programmes align with the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8).