The BATN Foundation has awarded N10m to six young agribusiness leaders, marking the celebration of the 2025 winners of its Farmers for the Future Programme during the Agribusiness Dialogue Session held in Lagos. The organisation said the awards were presented at the biennial session, which focused on the theme “Is the Smallholder Farmer Financeable?” and brought together stakeholders to discuss the future of agricultural enterprise in Nigeria.
In a statement, the foundation explained that the Farmers for the Future initiative was introduced to change how young people view agriculture by presenting it as a viable and scalable business option rather than a last resort. It noted that the programme was created in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps to inspire and empower serving youth corps members. According to the statement, the initiative is open to corps members with innovative agribusiness ideas or existing ventures and provides equity-free grants, mentorship opportunities, technical support and market linkages.
The foundation said, “Through this model, the BATN Foundation actively addresses unemployment, builds youth capacity and positions agriculture as a viable career path for young Nigerians.” It added that the 2025 edition attracted some of the country’s most promising agripreneurs, who went through a transparent and rigorous selection process.
At the end of the competition, six finalists emerged as winners. Daniel Akogwu Jacob of Aretecom Limited secured the top position and received N3m to expand his agribusiness. Emmanuel Mary of Zibah Foods and Akinloye John of Geentead Farm NG were awarded second place, each earning N2m. The third-place position was shared by three entrepreneurs: Ikhahon Robinson of Heabron Farm Ltd, Adetuberu Sikeade of Lycos Nutrients Enterprises and Haruna Godwin of Yaroson Agro Business, with each receiving N1m.
The statement added that the winners will also receive capacity building, business development guidance and inclusion in the F4F alumni network, offering long-term access to partnerships and additional support beyond the competition. It emphasised that the programme aims to create lasting benefits that go beyond financial assistance.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, the General Manager of the BATN Foundation, Oludare Odusanya, said the goal of the programme is to reshape how young Nigerians approach agriculture. He stated, “The vision of Farmers for the Future is to show young Nigerians that agriculture is not just survival; it is innovation, enterprise and opportunity. By supporting youth with the right financing, mentorship and networks, we are building a new generation of agripreneurs who will drive food security, create jobs and power Nigeria’s economic diversification.”
Odusanya added that the programme has already shown strong results since its launch. He noted that past winners, including Pemnia Wellness, have used their grants to move from prototype to market, secure regulatory approvals, expand their product lines and engage women farmers in their supply chains. He said these achievements prove the foundation’s belief that empowering young people is one of the most effective ways to strengthen the country’s agricultural sector.
