UNILORIN students’ agric projects win BAT N6m grant

Four graduates of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, have bagged N1,500,000 each in the 2024 British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation Agripreneur Programme.

The winners, identified as Mustapha Ibrahim, Olajire Adekunle Sherif, Oluwadare Ogunmoye and Anuoluwapo Akinboye, emerged from the eight innovative project proposals presentations in various aspects of agriculture.

According to a statement on Saturday by the BATNF General Manager, Oludare Odusanya, the Agripreneur initiative aimed to empower graduates with entrepreneurial skills and opportunities in the agricultural sector.

While announcing the winners, Odusanya noted that Ibrahim emerged best in the Tomato Awakening Project, Sherif was best in catfish production, Ogunmonye emerged best in maize production and Anuoluwapo was the best in tomato paste scaling production.

Odusanya said, “This initiative aims to empower graduates with entrepreneurial skills and opportunities in the agricultural sector. Out of eight innovative project proposals presented, four outstanding graduates have been selected as winners. Each winner received an award of N1,500,000 to support their agricultural venture.

“The four winners awarded from the University of Ilorin are: Mustapha Ibrahim who presented a proposal on the Tomato Awakening Project, Olajire Adekunle Sherif on Catfish production, Oluwadare Ogunmonye for Maize production and Anuoluwapo Akinboye presented a proposal on scaling up his Tomato paste production.”

“The Graduate Agripreneur Programme is a testament to our dedication to nurturing young talents and promoting innovation in agriculture. We believe in the potential of these graduates to transform the agricultural landscape and drive economic prosperity.”

He added that the winners were selected based on the innovation of their proposal, commitment to sustainable agricultural practices, and potential for scalability.

“They will each receive mentorship and support from industry experts to ensure the successful implementation and growth of their ventures,” Odusanya said.

Reacting to the students’ feat, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Olubunmi Omotesho, who represents the Vice-Chancellor, described the achievement as aligning with the mission of the university in producing graduates with skills that could drive economic growth.

The statement quoted Omotesho stating, “We are delighted by the achievements of our graduates in the BATN Foundation Graduate Agripreneur Programme. This initiative aligns with our university’s mission to produce graduates who are not only academically sound but also equipped with practical skills to drive economic growth.

“We congratulate the winners and look forward to their impactful contributions to the agricultural sector.”

Speaking on the importance of the grant, one of the recipients, Akinboye, noted that the grant would help to contribute to food security in Nigeria.

“I am honoured to be selected as a winner of the BATN Foundation Graduate Agripreneur Programme. This award will enable me to scale up my tomato cultivation project and contribute to food security in Nigeria. I am grateful for the support and mentorship provided through this programme,” he said.