Nigeria offers last-call Agribusiness contest for young Nigerians

Nigeria Opens Last-Call Agribusiness Contest for Youth

Young Nigerians interested in agriculture have till today, Friday, October 16, 2026, to apply for the Annual Youth in Agribusiness Innovation Contest, an initiative offering business training, seed funding and mentorship to aspiring and established agripreneurs.

The competition is organised by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Jesnoch International Limited. Plus Incubation Hub Nigeria Limited is delivering the programme under an AGRA-funded project focused on improving business development support and access to finance for agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises.

According to The Guardian Nigeria, the initiative aims to identify promising youth-led agricultural businesses, strengthen their capacity and connect them with potential investors and buyers.

Who Can Apply?

The contest is open to Nigerian citizens aged 18 to 35 who are running an agribusiness or developing an agricultural business idea. Applications are welcome from all states, with particular interest in businesses operating within the maize, rice, soybean and related agrifood value chains.

Applicants must meet the programme's eligibility requirements and should carefully review the official application guidelines before submitting their entries.

Although the competition is open nationwide, 60 per cent of finalist and training places will be allocated to applicants from Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna states, which are the focus areas of the wider project.

Women, rural entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to participate.

What Will Winners Receive?

Ten successful contestants will receive seed funding, structured mentorship and introductions to financiers and agricultural off-takers who may help them expand their businesses.

The programme also offers training in agribusiness fundamentals, financial literacy, access to finance and investment readiness. These opportunities are designed to help young entrepreneurs improve their business models and become better prepared to attract investment.

Thirty finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses before judges and other stakeholders during the competition's pitch event and grand finale.

The initiative is expected to help promising agricultural businesses strengthen their operations, develop market connections and explore opportunities for growth.

Key Dates Applicants Should Know

Applications opened on October 8 and close on October 16, 2026. Eligible applicants will also be invited to a free nationwide virtual training session on October 17.

Additional in-person training is scheduled for October 21 and 22 in Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna states.

The 30 finalists are expected to pitch their businesses in Lagos on October 29, while the awards will be presented during the National MSME Conference scheduled for November 8 to 10 in Lagos.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should visit the official contest website, complete the online application and review the eligibility conditions and submission requirements.

Application deadline: Friday, October 16, 2026.

Official application portal: "Youth Agri-Innovation Contest" (https://reference-url-citation.invalid/0)

Applicants should verify the deadline, eligibility rules and required information before submitting their entries. They should also retain their application reference number for future communication with the organisers.

Having the deadline as today, the contest offers an opportunity for eligible young Nigerians to develop their agricultural business skills, access mentorship and compete for support to grow their enterprises.