By Henry Ojelu 

ABUJA — The BATN Foundation has commenced applications for the seventh cohort of its Farmers for the Future, F4F, programme, offering N10 million in grant funding to support young Nigerians seeking to establish and expand agribusiness ventures.

The initiative, targeted at serving members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, is designed to equip participants with funding, training, mentorship and market access to build sustainable businesses across the agricultural value chain.

The Foundation said the programme comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with rising food insecurity, youth unemployment and growing calls for economic diversification through agriculture.

Since its launch in 2019 in partnership with the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, programme, Farmers for the Future has evolved into a nationwide platform aimed at encouraging youth participation in agriculture.

Under the scheme, participants undergo business development training, virtual boot camps and pitch sessions before industry experts, after which the top six finalists share N10 million in equity-free grants.

Beneficiaries also receive one year of mentorship, technical support and access to business networks to help scale their enterprises.

According to the BATN Foundation, the programme has recorded significant impact over the past six years, helping beneficiaries transition from small-scale farming operations to structured agribusiness enterprises.

Speaking on the launch of Cohort 7, the General Manager of BATN Foundation, Mr. Oludare Odusanya, said young people remain critical to the future of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

He said: “Young people have a critical role to play in shaping the future of agriculture in Nigeria. Through the Farmers for the Future grant, we are not just providing funding; we are building a generation of resilient agripreneurs equipped to drive economic growth, create jobs and strengthen food security.”

Odusanya noted that the initiative aligns with the Foundation’s broader objective of improving livelihoods and promoting sustainable development through agriculture and enterprise development.

He added that by supporting young agripreneurs, the Foundation aims to contribute to the growth of a more productive, competitive and resilient agricultural sector capable of meeting the country’s growing food demands.

Applications for the 2026 cohort have been opened to eligible NYSC members across the country, with interested participants encouraged to apply for the programme.