The BATN Foundation has awarded N10m to six young agribusiness leaders, celebrating the 2025 winners of its Farmers for the Future Programme during Lagos’s Agribusiness Dialogue Session.
In a statement, it was noted that the awards were presented during the biennial Agribusiness Dialogue Session held in Lagos, which explored the theme “Is the Smallholder Farmer Financeable?”
It stated, “To shift the perception of agriculture from a last resort to a viable and scalable business opportunity, the Farmers for the Future initiative was launched in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps to inspire and empower young Nigerians. Open to serving NYSC members with innovative agribusiness ideas or existing enterprises, the programme provides equity-free grants, mentorship, technical assistance and market linkages. Through this model, the BATN Foundation actively addresses unemployment, builds youth capacity and positions agriculture as a viable career path for young Nigerians.
“The 2025 competition attracted some of the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs. Following a transparent and rigorous selection process, six outstanding agripreneurs emerged as winners of the competition. Daniel Akogwu Jacob of Aretecom Limited emerged as the top winner, securing N3m to scale his venture. Emmanuel Mary of Zibah Foods and Akinloye John of Geentead Farm NG were both named second-place winners, each receiving N2m in funding support. Third place was shared by three innovative entrepreneurs: Ikhahon Robinson of Heabron Farm Ltd, Adetuberu Sikeade of Lycos Nutrients Enterprises and Haruna Godwin of Yaroson Agro Business, who were each awarded N1m.
“Beyond financial support, the winners will benefit from capacity building, business development guidance and inclusion in the F4F alumni community, giving them continued exposure and access to partnerships long after the competition.”
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the General Manager of the BATN Foundation, Oludare Odusanya, emphasised that the Farmers for the Future programme is about reimagining the role of young people in agriculture.
“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. These winners represent the resilience, creativity and ambition that the programme was designed to nurture.
“Since its launch, the F4F programme has demonstrated significant impact. Past winners, such as Pemnia Wellness, have leveraged their grants to move from prototype to market, secure regulatory approvals, expand product lines and engage women farmers in their supply chains. These success stories reinforce BATNF’s belief that supporting youth is one of the surest ways to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector,” Odusanya said.
