Initiative provides training, funding and mentorship to female agribusiness entrepreneurs
As the world celebrated International Women's Day, the BATN Foundation has highlighted the growing role of young women in Nigeria’s agricultural sector through empowerment programmes designed to equip them with skills, financing and enterprise support.
The foundation said young women across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain are increasingly emerging as innovators, entrepreneurs and drivers of rural economic transformation, helping to reshape agriculture into a modern and profitable industry.
However, despite their growing contributions, many female agripreneurs still face significant barriers including limited access to finance, inadequate technical training and restricted opportunities to expand their agricultural enterprises.
Women central to the future of agriculture
The General Manager of the foundation, Oludare Odusanya, said empowering young women in agriculture remains one of the most effective strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s food systems and creating sustainable economic opportunities.
“Women, particularly young women, are not peripheral to agriculture in Nigeria; they are central to its future,” Odusanya said.
“When we equip them with the right skills, resources and opportunities, we are not just supporting individuals; we are strengthening entire agricultural value chains.”
He also noted that access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers women face in agriculture, which is why the foundation provides grants, mentorship and enterprise support to enable female entrepreneurs to scale their businesses.
Programmes supporting young agribusiness entrepreneurs
The empowerment strategy is implemented through two major initiatives:
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Farmers for the Future (F4F) Award
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Graduate Agripreneur Programme (GAP)
Both programmes are designed to equip young Nigerians with the entrepreneurial knowledge, mentorship and financial support required to establish sustainable agribusinesses.
According to the foundation, the impact of these programmes on women’s participation in agriculture has been significant.
Women accounted for 53.57 percent of beneficiaries under the Farmers for the Future Award and received 60.80 percent of the total grants disbursed.
The foundation described this as a deliberate effort to ensure that female entrepreneurs gain meaningful access to capital and business development support needed to launch and expand their enterprises.
Success stories emerging from the programme
Several beneficiaries have already built successful agribusinesses with support from the initiative.
One of them is Adebisi Opeyemi, a nutrition-focused entrepreneur who processes Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato into nutritious food products designed to improve dietary health.
Another beneficiary, Edeh Felicitas, runs a food processing and packaging company that produces ready-to-cook meal combinations aimed at promoting healthy eating and convenience for consumers.
Similarly, Chinaza Naomi Mbah said the support from the programme helped her acquire manufacturing equipment for spice production.
Before receiving the award, she relied on rented machinery, but she has now expanded operations and increased production to meet growing demand for indigenous spices in both domestic and international markets.
Supporting female-led food processing and livestock enterprises
The Graduate Agripreneur Programme has also helped women scale agribusiness ventures across Nigeria.
Beneficiaries include:
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Khadijah Owolabi, who processes meat into value-added products such as kilishi, shredded meat snacks and spice blends.
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Cynthia Olurunmaiye, who expanded her broiler poultry production business after gaining access to funding and infrastructure support.
These businesses contribute to Nigeria’s growing agro-processing and livestock value chains, which are increasingly important for job creation and food security.
Expanding agricultural opportunities for rural women
Beyond agribusiness entrepreneurship, the foundation has also implemented community-based agricultural initiatives to improve rural livelihoods.
According to the organisation, more than 500 women in Bauchi and Akwa Ibom States have benefited from a poultry enterprise programme that provides income opportunities while improving household nutrition.
Overall, the foundation says its interventions have directly empowered more than 1,500 women across Nigeria, helping to increase household income, strengthen food security and enhance economic resilience in rural communities.
Aligning with global development goals
The foundation noted that its programmes support several international development priorities, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In particular, the initiatives contribute to:
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Zero Hunger (SDG 2)
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Gender Equality (SDG 5)
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Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)
Experts say empowering women in agriculture is crucial for Nigeria’s food security, as women account for a large share of the agricultural workforce across Africa.
By improving access to finance, training and market opportunities, development programmes like those implemented by BATN Foundation are helping to build a more inclusive and resilient agricultural sector.
