Agricultural businesses in Nigeria are receiving renewed attention in efforts to address one of the sector’s persistent constraints: the difficulty of turning viable agribusiness ideas into investment-ready enterprises capable of attracting finance.
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University are working to strengthen the country’s Business Development Services (BDS) ecosystem, with the aim of improving agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises’ access to finance, markets and professional business support.
The initiative, titled Systems Strengthening for BDS Provision and Access to Finance for Agricultural SMEs in Nigeria, is being piloted in Kaduna, Niger and Nasarawa states, with plans to extend its reach to other parts of the country.
At the centre of the programme is the recognition that access to credit is not determined by the availability of money alone. Many agricultural businesses struggle to present the financial records, business plans, operational structures and investment proposals required by lenders. Others lack access to professional advisers who understand the particular risks and commercial realities of agriculture.
The project therefore seeks to strengthen the network of Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) who help enterprises improve their management, financial planning, operations and investment readiness. Its activities include professional training and certification, networking, investment matchmaking and a cost-sharing facility.
The effort has already produced a pool of trained business advisers. In July 2026, the Kaduna Business School announced the certification of 110 agribusiness development service providers and 50 agricultural MSMEs drawn from the three pilot states. The providers are expected to support businesses operating across different segments of the agriculture and food value chain.
Earlier, an April bootcamp organised through the partnership brought agricultural entrepreneurs together for business training and a pitch competition. Eight businesses received grants of ₦1 million each, alongside three months of free business development support. Training covered investment, operations, management, personal finance and bookkeeping.
The partnership has also extended its activities to young agripreneurs. Its 2026 Youth in Agribusiness Innovation Contest attracted more than 10,000 applications, according to AGRA programme officer Godswill Aguiyi. Following screening, 30 finalists were selected to pitch their businesses at the October 29 final competition.
SMEDAN project manager Funto Babarinde said ₦17 million (about $12,800) would be distributed among 10 winners. The top three were allocated ₦5 million, ₦3 million and ₦2 million respectively, while those placed fourth to tenth were each allocated ₦1 million. The competition also included training in financial literacy, access to finance and investment readiness.
Inclusion is another component of the programme. Project representatives said women are expected to account for between 40 and 60 per cent of beneficiaries, while at least 10 per cent of participation is reserved for persons with disabilities. The initiative is also designed to encourage greater participation by young people in agribusiness.
NBF Insight
Nigeria’s agricultural financing challenge is often discussed in terms of insufficient lending, high interest rates and the risks associated with farming. But the capacity of businesses to prepare for and manage investment is another important part of the problem.
A stronger network of agricultural business advisers could help enterprises maintain proper accounts, develop credible business plans, understand financing requirements and connect with appropriate lenders. This is particularly relevant for processors, aggregators, input suppliers and other businesses whose growth can influence the wider food value chain.
However, training advisers and organising pitch competitions will not, by themselves, close the financing gap. The longer-term measure of success will be whether supported businesses secure suitable financing, expand operations, improve productivity and create sustainable jobs. For AGRA and its partners, the challenge is to turn a stronger business-support ecosystem into measurable commercial growth for Nigeria’s agricultural enterprises.
