The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have opened applications for a national contest to find, fund and train young agribusiness innovators in Nigeria.
The Annual Youth in Agribusiness Innovation Contest, being implemented with Jesnoch International Limited and delivered by Plus Incubation Hub Nigeria Limited, is offering seed funding, mentorship and business training to young Nigerians building businesses in agriculture.
Applications opened on Thursday, October 8, 2026, through the contest portal and will close on Friday, October 16, 2026.
The competition is open to Nigerians aged 18 to 35 who are running or planning to establish agricultural businesses, from idea stage to growing enterprises.
According to a statement, 10 winners will receive seed funding, structured mentorship and introductions to financiers and off-takers, while 30 finalists will pitch their businesses in Lagos on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
The prizes will be presented at the National MSME Conference scheduled to hold in Lagos from November 8 to 10, 2026.
Applicants who pass the eligibility check will also be invited to a free nationwide virtual training session on Saturday, October 17, 2026, covering agribusiness fundamentals, financial literacy, access to finance and investment readiness.
The sessions will be recorded and shared with participants who cannot attend live, allowing them to complete the modules at their convenience.
Additionally, 120 young people, comprising 40 participants each from Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna states, will receive two days of intensive practical training on Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22, 2026, holding concurrently in the three states.
Leave a comment