Six UNIBADAN graduates win BATN foundation agripreneur awards, N1.5 million each

The University of Ibadan has championed agricultural innovation as six graduates from the institution won the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) foundation agripreneur awards and N1.5 million each.

In his keynote remarks, Dare Odusanya, general manager of BATN Foundation, said that they are not just investing in businesses but 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, it’s about building a generation of agri-leaders who will champion sustainability, food security, and rural development,” Odusanya said.

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 the University of Ibadan’s graduates, postgraduates, and alumni groups submitted proposals to participate in the highly anticipated program.

After a rigorous review, 11 finalists were shortlisted to pitch their agribusiness ideas live at the Graduate Agripreneur Program Evaluation Pitch and Grant Award ceremony, 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 their originality, scalability, market potential, and sustainability of proposals.

Each winner received a cash grant of N1.5 million

Additionally, the winners also benefit from 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.

Bamidele Omitoyin, a professor from the university, in his remarks, emphasised 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,” Omitoyin said.