Inspiring New Generation Of Agricultural Leaders – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Agriculture stays a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic system, holding the potential to drive job creation, meals safety, and sustainable financial development.

Recognizing this immense potential, the British American Tobacco Nigeria Basis (BATNF) has continued its mission to empower younger graduates to harness alternatives inside the agricultural sector by way of its flagship Graduate Agripreneurship Programme (GAP).

As the decision for functions for the 2025 version begins, working from February 17 to March 3, 2025, the programme guarantees to rework the lives of individuals by equipping them with sources, mentorship, and technical experience to construct profitable agribusinesses.

Since its inception, GAP has supported over 20 younger agripreneurs, serving to them set up progressive ventures in numerous agricultural fields, and this 12 months, the initiative is about to increase its influence additional.

The journey of previous beneficiaries paints a vivid image of how the GAP programme is shaping the way forward for agriculture in Nigeria. Richard Olayemi Balogun, a graduate of the College of Ibadan is a shining instance of how this initiative can rework lives.

Richard, who ventured into broiler manufacturing, remembers how the programme offered him with the funds to scale his enterprise.

“Earlier than GAP, I had the fervour however lacked the sources and technical data to take my enterprise to the subsequent stage. The grant I obtained, coupled with the mentorship and coaching, gave me the boldness to develop my enterprise. At the moment, I’ve a thriving enterprise that not solely helps me financially but additionally creates jobs for others in my neighborhood,” Richard shared.

One other success story is that of Aderanti Oni, a graduate from the Federal College of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), who constructed a sustainable poultry farming enterprise. Ranti credit GAP with giving her the instruments to beat challenges and obtain her dream of turning into a profitable agripreneur.

“The GAP programme taught me resilience and offered me with the sources to succeed. It wasn’t simply in regards to the grant; the mentorship helped me navigate the complexities of the agricultural sector,” she mentioned.

Their tales are only a glimpse of the transformational influence that GAP has had on many different individuals, additional underscoring the worth of investing in younger skills to drive agricultural improvement.

GAP is just not merely a funding initiative; it’s a complete platform designed to deal with vital challenges similar to youth unemployment and meals safety.

Chosen individuals for the 2025 version will obtain a mixed grant of ₦27 million ($18,000), entry to land sources, capacity-building coaching, and mentorship.

Talking in regards to the imaginative and prescient behind the programme, Oludare Odusanya, Normal Supervisor of BATN Basis, emphasised the group’s dedication to empowering younger Nigerians.

His phrases, “At BATN Basis, we perceive that agriculture holds the important thing to unlocking financial prosperity for our nation. GAP is our approach of investing sooner or later by equipping younger graduates with the instruments, sources, and expertise to excel in agribusiness. These agripreneurs will not be solely creating jobs for themselves however are additionally contributing considerably to meals safety and financial improvement.”

This 12 months, GAP will as soon as once more be carried out in partnership with three main universities: Federal College of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), College of Ibadan (UI), and College of Ilorin (UNILORIN). These establishments present the framework to make sure the profitable supply of the programme, providing graduates the platform to show their concepts into thriving ventures.

Purposes has already opened on February 17, 2025 and BATNF encourages younger graduates from the three taking part universities to grab this life-changing alternative.

candidates can go to the web sites of FUNAAB, UI, or UNILORIN for detailed pointers and software hyperlinks. The deadline for submission is March 3, 2025, and profitable candidates will be part of an elite group of agripreneurs poised to reshape the agricultural panorama of Nigeria. 

The BATN Basis stays dedicated to its mission of selling sustainable agriculture, driving youth empowerment, and guaranteeing meals safety. By means of the Graduate Agripreneurship Programme, BATNF continues to encourage, empower, and equip the subsequent technology of leaders to take Nigeria’s agricultural sector to larger heights.

As GAP alumni like Richard Olayemi and Ranti Oni have proven, the programme is a stepping stone to a brighter future, not only for the beneficiaries however for the whole nation.

With the proper assist and imaginative and prescient, Nigerian youth can rework agriculture right into a thriving sector that drives innovation, creates jobs, and ensures meals safety for all.