About The Program
The Graduate Agripreneur Programme (GAP) is a transformative initiative developed by the BATN Foundation to empower young Nigerian graduates to build and sustain successful agribusiness ventures. The Graduate Agripreneur Programme is designed to encourage and support the agribusiness enterprise development of postgraduates & 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 program is rooted in the Foundation’s Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship pillars, designed to address unemployment and promote agriculture as a profitable career path. The flagship youth empowerment initiative designed to equip recent Nigerian graduates with the knowledge, tools, and financial support to build sustainable agribusinesses. The program focuses on transforming graduates into job creators by unlocking the potential of agriculture as a viable career path.
Current Partner Institutions
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
University of Ilorin
University of Ibadan
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
A unique sustainability feature of the program is that agribusinesses must be set up within the school premises, allowing 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 our commitment to expanding the reach and impact of GAP, the Foundation is actively exploring partnerships with other universities across Nigeria. We welcome institutions to submit proposals detailing how they can partner with us to implement the Graduate Agripreneur Programme on their campuses.
Submit proposals to: batn_foundation@bat.com
Objectives
Make a career in Agri-business attractive
Reduce unemployment and youth restiveness
Prepare future generations for challenges of feeding growing population
Help develop unique talents and broaden interest in sustainable Agriculture
Demonstrate and promote commercialization of Agripreneurial ideas
Encourage establishment of sustainable agricultural enterprises
Grant Prize
Grant Prize Per Winner
₦1,500,000
Equity-free grant funding per winning participant.
Application & Selection Process
Submit Detailed Proposals
Applicants are required to submit detailed agribusiness proposals during the application phase.
Technical Committee Review
Proposals are reviewed and screened by a Technical Committee within the partner universities, using predefined criteria.
Live Pitch Session
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.
Winner Selection
Winners are selected based on the strength of their proposals, viability of the business model, and their performance during the pitch.
Ensuring Transparency
This multi-stage process ensures transparency, merit-based selection, and alignment with the program’s objective of empowering promising agripreneurs.
Access to Finance
Training & Capacity Building
Past Winners
Ready to transform your agricultural future?
If you are a graduate from a partner university with an innovative agribusiness idea, apply now!
Apply for the Grant