In his keynote remarks, the BATN Foundation’s General Manager Mr Dare Odusanya stated, “We are not just investing in businesses, we are investing in bold ideas, committed youth, and a future where agriculture drives economic development and food security.” The Graduate Agripreneur Program is not just about funding,” he said, “it’s about building a generation of agri-leaders who will champion sustainability, food security, and rural development.”
The Foundation remains committed to bridging the gap between academic training and real-world agribusiness entrepreneurship, inspiring a new generation of young Nigerians to embrace agriculture as a viable career and source of livelihood.
Following a Call for Applications earlier in February 2025, attracting numerous aspiring agripreneurs across University of Ibadan’s graduates, postgraduates and alumni groups submitted proposals to participate in the highly anticipated program. After a rigorous review process, 11 finalists were shortlisted to pitch their agribusiness ideas live at the Graduate Agripreneur Program Evaluation Pitch and Grant Award ceremony, held at the First Bank Hall, University of Ibadan, on April 10, 2025.
At the end of the pitch session, six outstanding young agripreneurs were selected based on the originality, scalability, market potential, and sustainability of their proposals. Each winner received a cash grant of ₦1,500,000. Additionally, the winners also benefit access to land resources, mentorship from leading industry experts, and other business support to ensure the successful implementation of their ventures. The winners are Samuel Afolabi, Akintayo Akintunde, Ojo Florence, Kehinde Amuo, Khadeejah Owolabi and Eyitayo Ojo. Their agribusiness concepts cut across diverse agricultural value chains such as fish farming, apiary, silviculture and livestock rearing. These winners exemplify innovation and dedication in agriculture, representing a new generation of agripreneurs ready to drive food security and economic growth.
The award ceremony showcased the presence of distinguished stakeholders from both the University of Ibadan and the BATN Foundation. In attendance were key academic stakeholders, including the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, the Dean of Renewable Natural Resources, other faculty members, students, and a vibrant community of supporters and future agripreneurs.
In his remarks, Professor Bamidele Omitoyin emphasized the importance of the programme, saying, “We are immensely proud of the accomplishments of our graduates in the BATN Foundation Graduate Agripreneur Programme. This initiative resonated with our university’s mission to develop graduates who are not only academically proficient but also possess the practical skills necessary for driving economic growth. We commend the winners and eagerly anticipate their positive contributions to the agricultural sector.”
