Six young Nigerian entrepreneurs have received a combined ₦12 million in grants from the BATN Foundation’s 2026 Farmers for the Future Programme to strengthen their agricultural businesses and contribute to food security.

Implemented in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the programme equips corps members with agribusiness training, mentorship and financial support to establish and expand sustainable agricultural enterprises.

Olufemi Dominic Fabian, founder of DOHA Prime Venture, which operates FishTrackPro, emerged as the overall winner and received ₦3 million. His technology-driven solution helps fish farmers improve productivity through data-based farm management and monitoring.

Temitope Adewole, founder of Apem Soupmix, and Abdulwaheed Bala, founder of NutriSoy, jointly secured second place, receiving ₦2 million each to develop their respective food processing businesses.

Apem Soupmix produces natural powdered soup mixes, while NutriSoy specialises in soybean-based products.

Three other entrepreneurs placed third and received ₦1 million each. They are Olanike Mayungbe of Nutririte Foods, which processes agricultural produce; Iorember Iorsue of Unku Charles Maize Farm; and Kingsley Udoeyen of Salwel Foods, a business producing value-added food products from grains and legumes.

The grants were presented in Abuja by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, during the corps’ 2026 Batch C Pre-Orientation Workshop.

Nafiu congratulated the beneficiaries and praised the BATN Foundation for promoting youth entrepreneurship through agriculture. He also called on NYSC state coordinators and officials of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) department to publicise the initiative during skills acquisition lectures and encourage greater participation in the 2027 edition.

The six businesses span several segments of the agricultural value chain, including aquaculture, agricultural technology, crop production and food processing. Their products and services target challenges relating to farm productivity, food nutrition, post-harvest losses and market access.

The funding is expected to help the beneficiaries develop their enterprises, improve business operations and pursue expansion opportunities. Through the initiative, young entrepreneurs are supported in transforming agricultural ideas into viable businesses capable of generating income and creating jobs.

The BATN Foundation said its partnership with the NYSC would continue to create opportunities for young Nigerians to establish sustainable agribusinesses while contributing to food security and economic development.

Now in its seventh year, the Farmers for the Future Programme combines agricultural training, mentorship, business development support and grant funding to help young entrepreneurs establish and grow their businesses.

Source: MSME Africa Online