Agricultural small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria have received a fresh opportunity to access funding, expand operations, and scale their businesses through a high-level networking event organised by the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University, in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
The two-day event, held recently in Lagos, was titled “Funding the Future: Powering Nigeria’s Agric-SMEs.” It brought together key players from Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem, including representatives of financial institutions, business development service providers (BDSPs), and government agencies, to discuss practical ways to improve access to finance and business support for agribusinesses.
According to the organisers, the goal of the forum was to help small and medium-sized agricultural businesses in Nigeria overcome funding barriers and enhance operational efficiency. Participants explored strategies for business growth, access to credit, and sustainability in an industry that remains vital to Nigeria’s economic development.
Speaking at the event, the Head of Alumni Relations and Support Services at EDC, Dr. Nnenna Ugwu, said the Centre remains committed to empowering small businesses through training and access to development opportunities. She explained that the EDC’s role goes beyond providing capital to entrepreneurs.
“Today, we are utilising business development service providers to support small businesses on the AGRA platform and explore how they can be funded. And when we say funding, it is funding that works, funding for the future, and sustainable funding,” she stated.
Dr. Ugwu further noted that EDC’s model involves continuous mentorship and connection to funding opportunities. “We train entrepreneurs, hand-hold them, and create an environment for them to thrive. While we don’t give money directly, we link SMEs to organisations that provide grants and seed funding,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Rufus Idris, Country Director for AGRA in Nigeria, stressed the importance of building a strong ecosystem that supports agricultural SMEs. He said the collaboration with EDC aligns with AGRA’s mission of improving food security and strengthening the agricultural value chain in Africa.
“We are here to see how to strengthen the ecosystem of BDSPs and service provision to agric-SMEs, ensuring they can tap into the skills and support needed to grow and sustain their businesses,” Dr. Idris explained.
He added that the partnership aims to complement Nigeria’s broader efforts to boost agricultural output, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote agribusiness as a driver of economic diversification.
The event featured panel discussions, strategy sessions, and networking opportunities with banks, investors, and development partners. Participants exchanged ideas on innovative financing options, risk management, and policy frameworks to support agric-SMEs. The forum also showcased success stories from small businesses that have achieved growth through partnerships and training facilitated by EDC and AGRA.
One of the participants, Mr. Israel Yusuf, Principal Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Doctor Fish Agric Consult, commended the organisers for creating a platform that connects stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.
“This is a timely intervention, bringing together actors across the value chain to focus on solutions. EDC is an enterprise-driven organisation that believes every challenge has a solution,” Yusuf said.
Several participants expressed optimism that the EDC-AGRA collaboration would lead to increased funding opportunities and better access to professional support for local agricultural enterprises. They also emphasised the need for more partnerships between private institutions and development agencies to address long-standing barriers facing Nigerian farmers and agri-business owners.
Through initiatives like the EDC-AGRA forum, experts believe Nigeria’s agricultural sector can become more attractive to investors, while farmers and entrepreneurs gain the technical and financial tools needed to thrive. By connecting agric-SMEs with service providers and funders, the organisers hope to create a sustainable pathway for innovation, productivity, and food security in Nigeria.
The forum reaffirmed the critical role of small and medium enterprises in driving agricultural transformation and supporting economic recovery. It also underscored the need for continued collaboration among academia, the private sector, and development partners to build a resilient agricultural ecosystem capable of meeting Nigeria’s food demands and export goals.
