The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation has awarded N28.5m in grants to 18 young graduates from three leading Nigerian universities to fuel innovative agribusiness ventures, it said on Tuesday.

The initiative, part of the 2025 Graduate Agripreneur Programme, aims to foster food security, sustainability, and youth empowerment through agriculture.

The recipients, selected from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, the University of Ilorin, and the University of Ibadan, each received N1.5m in seed funding, alongside mentorship and technical support to launch and scale their ventures.

The winning projects span diverse agricultural value chains, including cassava cultivation, poultry farming, beekeeping, tomato production, and meat processing.

At FUNAAB, the award ceremony took place at the Green Chamber of the University Senate Building, honouring winners such as Habeebullahi Tijani (cassava), Ajibade Patience (poultry egg production), and Oke Michael (broiler production and value addition).

Prof Kola Adebayo, representing Vice-Chancellor Prof Babatunde Kehinde, praised the BATN Foundation for its commitment to nurturing job creators, stating, “This partnership empowers our students to become role models in agricultural innovation.”

The University of Ilorin celebrated six graduates, including Abdulahi Ayomide (sorghum cultivation), Uthman Oladipo (poultry farming), and Olorunmaiye Cynthia (broiler production), who emerged victorious after a competitive pitch process.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Wahab Egbewole commended the programme for equipping graduates to tackle Nigeria’s economic challenges through agribusiness.

At the University of Ibadan, the Faculty of Agriculture hosted an event recognising ventures like Akintayo Akintunde’s sustainable beekeeping and Khadeejah Owolabi’s meat processing business. The university lauded the winners’ focus on sustainability and scalability.

General Manager of BATN Foundation, Oludare Odusanya, underscored the programme’s broader vision.

“These young agripreneurs are transforming agriculture into a vibrant space for innovation,” he said. “By providing funding, mentorship, and training, we’re investing in a future where Nigerian youth drive economic growth and food security.”

The initiative, now in its 2025 edition, has supported over 20 young agripreneurs since its inception, with past beneficiaries like Mary Jimba and Richard Balogun (University of Ibadan) building thriving poultry businesses.