*As BATN empowers six winners with N1.5m eachDike Onwuamaeze
The University of Ibadan has announced its participation in the prestigious BATN Foundation Graduate Agripreneur Programme for 2025.
The programme is a transformative initiative that aims to equip graduates with vital entrepreneurial skills and opportunities within Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Meanwhile, six outstanding candidates have been selected as winners from the competitive field of eleven innovative project proposals submitted by graduates.
Each of the winners would be awarded ₦1,500,000 to support their respective agricultural ventures.
The winners from the University of Ibadan include 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 exemplified innovation and dedication in agriculture, representing a new generation of agripreneurs ready to drive food security and economic growth.
Akintayo Akintunde, who developed a plan for a Sustainable Beekeeping Project, expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
Akintude said: “Being selected as a winner of the BATN Foundation Graduate Agripreneur Programme is an incredible honor.
“This funding will empower me to further develop my apiary business and cut down adulterated honey in the market.
“I am incredibly thankful for the guidance and resources offered through this initiative.”
The ceremony, which was held at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, welcomed key figures, including the General Manager of BATN Foundation, Mr. Oludare Odusanya, who reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship and sustainable development in Nigeria through initiatives such as the Graduate Agripreneur Programme.
He said: “The Graduate Agripreneur Programme exemplifies our commitment to nurturing young talents and fostering innovation in agriculture.
“We strongly believe that these graduates possess the potential to transform the agricultural landscape and contribute to the nation’s economic prosperity.”
Selection criteria for the graduates included the originality of their proposals, commitment to sustainable agricultural practices, and the scalability of their ideas.
Each recipient will receive mentorship and support from industry experts to ensure the successful implementation and growth of their projects.
The award ceremony attracted the presence of distinguished stakeholders from both the University of Ibadan and the BATN Foundation.
They include 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 Omitoyin 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.”
He further noted that the Graduate Agripreneur Programme represents a crucial step in equipping students with the tools needed to excel and effect meaningful change within their fields.
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