The BATN Foundation has strengthened efforts to support young women in Nigeria’s agricultural sector through targeted empowerment programmes focused on skills development, funding and enterprise growth.

The Foundation, in a statement to mark the recent International Women’s Day, said its initiatives are designed to address long-standing barriers facing women in agriculture, including limited access to finance, inadequate technical training and restricted opportunities to scale agribusinesses.

It noted that young women are increasingly contributing to agricultural production and value chains across the country, but require structured support to fully realise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry players.

Programmes designed to build agribusiness capacity

The Foundation said its strategy places youth empowerment, particularly for women, at the centre of agricultural development efforts. Through its Farmers for the Future (F4F) Award and the Graduate Agripreneur Programme (GAP), beneficiaries are provided with training, mentorship and financial support to establish and grow businesses.

According to the Foundation, women account for 53.57 per cent of beneficiaries under the Farmers for the Future Award and have received 60.8 per cent of the total grants disbursed. The allocation, it said, reflects efforts to improve women’s access to capital and enterprise support.

Beneficiaries expand agribusiness operations

Several beneficiaries have expanded their operations following participation in the programmes.

Adebisi Opeyemi, founder of Pemnia Wellness, produces food products from Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato, focusing on improving nutrition through locally sourced ingredients.

Edeh Felicitas, founder of Nuriswell Foods, runs a food processing and packaging business that produces ready-to-cook meals aimed at convenience and healthy consumption.

Mbah Chinaza Naomi, founder of Nana’s Delight Foodstuff, was able to acquire processing equipment after receiving support from the programme, allowing her to increase production capacity and meet growing demand for spices.

Under tche Graduate Agripreneur Programme, Owolabi Khadijah, founder of Sweet Ville, processes meat into products such as kilishi and spice blends, while Olurunmaiye Cynthia, founder of Mojola Farm, has expanded her broiler production business with access to funding and infrastructure.

Foundation highlights role of women in agriculture

Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of the BATN Foundation, said empowering young women remains critical to improving Nigeria’s agricultural value chains and food systems.

He said access to finance continues to be a major constraint for women in agriculture, noting that grants and mentorship programmes are helping beneficiaries establish viable businesses, create jobs and improve livelihoods.

Broader impact across rural communities

Beyond youth-focused initiatives, the Foundation said it is also implementing programmes to support women in rural communities. In Bauchi and Akwa Ibom states, more than 500 women have benefited from a poultry enterprise initiative aimed at improving income and household nutrition.

According to the Foundation, more than 1,500 women have been directly impacted through its various programmes, contributing to improved food production, household earnings and community development.

The initiatives are aligned with global development priorities, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on zero hunger, gender equality and economic growth.