The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University has partnered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and Kaduna Business School (KBS) to strengthen the capacity of agriculture-focused small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, with eight selected businesses emerging winners of ₦1 million grants each.
The initiative was unveiled at the EDC AG-SME Bootcamp and Pitch Competition, a three-day fully sponsored enterprise development programme held in Lagos, designed to equip agric-SMEs with technical, financial, and managerial skills needed to scale sustainably.
The programme is part of a broader intervention aimed at improving access to finance for young agribusiness entrepreneurs while deepening linkages between SMEs and Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) across the country.
Eight agric-SMEs emerge winners
At the close of the bootcamp, eight agribusinesses were selected as grant winners after pitching their business models before a review panel. Each of the winners received ₦1 million in funding to expand operations and improve productivity.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Nnenna Ugwu, Head of Alumni Relations and Support Services at EDC and member of its management board, said the programme was designed to identify and reward innovative entrepreneurs transforming Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
“We want to watch great entrepreneurs who have applied for this AG-SMEs empowerment programme. Those who win will each receive a grant of one million naira to boost their businesses,” she said.
According to her, participants had demonstrated strong innovation and resilience throughout the bootcamp, proving that Nigeria’s agric sector continues to attract entrepreneurs with scalable and impactful ideas.
Why the partnership matters
Ugwu said the collaboration between EDC, SMEDAN, AGRA, and Kaduna Business School reflects a shared commitment to positioning SMEs as a major growth engine for Nigeria’s economy.
She explained that SMEDAN’s role as Nigeria’s SME regulator makes it a critical institutional partner in driving nationwide impact.
“SMEDAN is a regulatory body; therefore, everything about small businesses in Nigeria from the government’s perspective is on SMEDAN. If you want to support and grow small businesses in Nigeria, the first go-to place is EDC, while SMEDAN creates the enabling environment for that growth,” she said.
The partnership also leverages AGRA’s regional expertise in agricultural transformation and Kaduna Business School’s enterprise training capabilities to deliver broader support beyond grants.
Beyond grants: Three months business support
Dr. Stanley Ibeku, Lead, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at EDC, said the programme goes beyond financial intervention by providing structured post-grant advisory support.
According to him, the eight beneficiaries will receive free business development consulting for three months, funded under the project.
“We have eight grant winners, and the cash grant of N1 million each to the eight SMEs. We will also provide business development support where consultants will work with them for three months free of charge to help take their businesses to the next level,” Ibeku said.
He noted that the training covered investment readiness, bookkeeping, operational planning, financial management, and business expansion strategy—key areas where many SMEs struggle.
Beneficiaries speak on impact
For beneficiaries, the bootcamp delivered more than funding.
Ms. Damilola Awojobi, Chief Executive Officer of Dainty Foods, described the programme as transformative, saying it helped her rediscover critical areas of business management previously overlooked.
“It has been impactful and eye-opening. My eyes were opened again to things I had neglected as a business owner, especially record keeping, monitoring inflows and outflows, capital investments, and credit tracking,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Dale Junaid, said the sessions on personal finance, bookkeeping, and investment readiness had significantly improved his approach to business planning.
“It has been an amazing experience. I learned practical things that will improve my business, especially in pitch preparation, slide presentation, and investment readiness,” he said.
Strengthening Nigeria’s agric enterprise ecosystem
The initiative comes at a time when access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers facing Nigeria’s agric-SMEs. By combining grant funding with enterprise training and advisory support, the EDC-led partnership is expected to improve survival rates for emerging agribusinesses and strengthen productivity in the sector.
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