The BATN Foundation has restated its commitment to empowering Nigeria’s smallholder farmers and strengthening the nation’s agricultural ecosystem through its 2025 Agribusiness Dialogue Session.
The biennial event, which took place recently in Lagos, gathered policymakers, financiers, development experts, and private sector leaders to deliberate on the theme, “Is the Smallholder Farmer Really Financeable?”
Executive Director of BATN Foundation, Mrs. Halimat Shuaibu, said the Foundation’s mission is to ensure that smallholder farmers are financially viable, resilient, and recognised as key contributors to national development. She explained that agriculture in Nigeria must be elevated beyond survival practices. “Agriculture must move from being seen as a survivalist venture to a strategic driver of national wealth,” she said.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the Foundation, Mr. Oludare Odusanya, noted that finance alone cannot transform the fortunes of farmers without the right knowledge and access to markets. “True empowerment happens when financing is coupled with knowledge, innovation, and access to markets. Our mission is to close these gaps so that smallholder farmers are no longer defined by dependency but recognised as the true engines of Nigeria’s agribusiness economy,” he explained.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Ademola Adenle, Senior Special Adviser on Agricultural Innovation to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. He stressed that investing in smallholder farmers remains one of the smartest economic decisions the country can make. “Every kobo invested in smallholder farmers is not charity. It is one of the smartest investments we can make today because agriculture remains the surest driver of jobs, innovation, and resilience,” Adenle stated.
During the panel session, industry leaders highlighted access to finance as the greatest challenge facing smallholder farmers. Panellists included Mr. Abiodun Sosanya, General Manager of the National Agriculture Development Fund; Mr. Samson Ogbole, CEO of Eupepsia Place Limited; and Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture. They collectively called for new financing models, including non-collateral lending, stronger farmer databases, and investments in rural infrastructure to ease the movement of produce.
Mr. Ogbole also emphasised that financial support must be tied to knowledge transfer. “We can’t finance ignorance. Farmers need knowledge, hubs, and business-minded models that reduce risks and enable shared growth,” he said.
The Dialogue also featured a fireside chat with BATN Foundation Project Manager, Mrs. Adetola Oniyelu, and Co-founder of Cato Foods, Mrs. Atinuke Lebile. They both stressed the need for stronger capacity-building initiatives and alignment of agricultural policies with realities at the grassroots level.
As part of its youth empowerment initiatives, the Foundation used the Dialogue to reward winners of the 2025 Farmers for the Future competition. The first-place award went to Mr. Daniel Akogwu Jacob of Aretecom Limited, who received N3 million. The second-place prize of N2 million each went to Ms. Emmanuel Mary of Zibah Foods and Mr. Akinloye John of Geentead Farm NG. Other finalists were awarded N1 million each to support their agribusiness ventures.
Since its establishment in 2002, BATN Foundation has implemented over 350 community development projects across Nigeria. These projects have focused on modern agricultural practices, empowering farmers to move from subsistence to commercial farming, and creating opportunities for wealth creation in rural communities.
At the close of the Dialogue, stakeholders called for urgent and coordinated efforts to ensure smallholder farmers have access to finance, tools, modern technologies, and functional markets. Participants agreed that strengthening the agricultural value chain is essential for food security, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
The event also reinforced the role of public-private partnerships in building a sustainable agricultural sector in Nigeria. By bridging the gap between farmers, financiers, and policymakers, BATN Foundation hopes to create an ecosystem where agriculture is not only profitable but also attractive to young people who represent the future of food security in the country.
