BATN Foundation Empowers Young Women to Lead Nigeria’s Agricultural Future

As the world marks International Women’s Day, the BATN Foundation is highlighting the transformative role young women are playing in Nigeria’s agricultural sector through targeted empowerment initiatives that equip them with the skills, funding and enterprise support needed to build thriving agribusinesses.

Across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, young women are increasingly emerging as innovators, entrepreneurs and drivers of rural economic transformation. Yet despite their enormous potential, many continue to face structural barriers, including limited access to finance, inadequate technical training and restricted opportunities to scale viable agricultural enterprises.

Recognising both the challenge and the opportunity, BATN Foundation has positioned youth empowerment, particularly for young women, at the centre of its agricultural development strategy. Through targeted capacity-building and enterprise development programmes, the Foundation is helping reposition agriculture as a modern, innovation-driven and profitable sector for the next generation.

Central to this effort are two flagship initiatives: the Farmers for the Future (F4F) Award and the Graduate Agripreneur Programme (GAP). Both programmes are designed to equip young Nigerians with the entrepreneurial skills, mentorship and financial support required to establish sustainable agribusinesses.

The impact of these programmes on women’s participation in agriculture has been significant. Under the Farmers for the Future Award, women account for 53.57 per cent of beneficiaries and have received 60.8 per cent of the total grants disbursed. This deliberate allocation reflects the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that female agripreneurs have meaningful access to the capital and support systems required to launch and expand their businesses.

These investments are already producing compelling success stories across Nigeria’s agribusiness ecosystem. Among the beneficiaries is Adebisi Opeyemi, founder of Pemnia Wellness, a nutrition-focused enterprise that processes Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato into nutritious food products aimed at improving dietary health. Similarly, Edeh Felicitas, founder of Nuriswell Foods, is building a fast-growing food processing and packaging business that produces ready-to-cook meal combinations designed to offer convenience while promoting healthy eating.

Another beneficiary, Mbah Chinaza Naomi, founder of Nana’s Delight Foodstuff; Prior to receiving the Farmers for the Future Award, relied on rented equipment for spice production. Subsequently, she acquired her own manufacturing machinery and successfully expanded operations, enabling her to meet increasing demand for indigenous spices both domestically and internationally.

The Graduate Agripreneur Programme further strengthens this pipeline of female agricultural entrepreneurs by providing enterprise training, business mentorship and access to start-up capital. Beneficiaries include 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 the capital and infrastructure required to scale operations.

According to Oludare Odusanya, 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.

He added: “Access to finance is one of the biggest barriers women face in agriculture. By providing grants, mentorship and enterprise support, we are enabling young women to build successful agribusinesses that create employment, improve food systems and strengthen community livelihoods.”

Beyond youth-focused initiatives, BATN Foundation also continues to empower women across rural communities through targeted agricultural interventions designed to enhance productivity and expand income opportunities.

In Bauchi and Akwa Ibom States, more than 500 women  benefited from a poultry enterprise initiative that provides sustainable income while improving household nutrition.

Collectively, these initiatives have directly empowered more than 1,500 women, contributing to improved household incomes, increased food security and stronger economic resilience within rural communities.

The Foundation’s work also aligns closely with the global development priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8).