Published: June 12 2026
Locations: Nigeria
The Graduate Agripreneur Programme GAP is empowering young Nigerian graduates to build and sustain successful agribusiness ventures. Eligible graduates from partner institutions are encouraged to review the details below and submit their proposals.
About The Programme
The Graduate Agripreneur Programme is a transformative initiative developed by the BATN Foundation to empower young Nigerian graduates to build and sustain successful agribusiness ventures. The programme is designed to encourage and support the agribusiness enterprise development of postgraduates and undergraduates in the agricultural faculties of tertiary institutions. The programme is geared at changing their mindset and demonstrating the profitability of agriculture even to undergraduates.
The programme is rooted in the Foundation Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship pillars and is designed to address unemployment and promote agriculture as a profitable career path. This flagship youth empowerment initiative equips recent Nigerian graduates with the knowledge, tools, and financial support to build sustainable agribusinesses. The programme focuses on transforming graduates into job creators by unlocking the potential of agriculture as a viable career path.
Current Partner Institutions
The Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta FUNAAB, University of Ilorin, University of Ibadan, and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike are current partner institutions.
A unique sustainability feature of the programme is that agribusinesses must be set up within the school premises. This allows undergraduates to witness firsthand how a fellow student turned graduate is successfully running an agribusiness. This peer model serves as a live demonstration of what is possible, inspiring students and offering opportunities for learning, mentorship, and internships.
As part of the commitment to expanding the reach and impact of GAP, the Foundation is actively exploring partnerships with other universities across Nigeria. Institutions are welcome to submit proposals detailing how they can partner to implement the Graduate Agripreneur Programme on their campuses. Proposals should be submitted to [email protected]
Programme Objectives
The programme aims to make a career in agribusiness attractive, reduce unemployment and youth restiveness, prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population, help develop unique talents and broaden interest in sustainable agriculture, demonstrate and promote commercialization of agripreneurial ideas, and encourage establishment of sustainable agricultural enterprises.
Grant Prize
Each winning participant receives an equity free grant of ₦1,500,000. This funding is designed to help winners launch or scale their agribusiness ventures without giving up ownership or control of their enterprises.
Application And Selection Process
Applicants are required to submit detailed agribusiness proposals during the application phase. Proposals are then reviewed and screened by a Technical Committee within the partner universities using predefined criteria. Top performing applicants are shortlisted to proceed to the final stage which includes a live pitch session before a panel of senior representatives from BATN Foundation and the host university.
Winners are selected based on the strength of their proposals, the viability of their business models, and their performance during the pitch. This multi stage process ensures transparency, merit based selection, and alignment with the programme objective of empowering promising agripreneurs.
Access To Finance
Seed funding in the form of grants is provided for top performing participants to scale their agribusiness ideas. Each winner receives a grant prize of ₦1.5 million. The programme also facilitates linkage to financial institutions and investors for follow on financing and credit facilities.
Capital free resources include access to land, infrastructure, and basic farming tools within the university environment at no cost to the graduate entrepreneurs.
Training And Capacity Building
Capacity development includes practical training in modern farming techniques, agribusiness development and management, innovative farming methods, and enterprise sustainability. Mentorship and support includes access to a network of experienced agribusiness professionals and market linkages.
