By George George Idowu
The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has awarded 1.5 million naira to four graduates from the University of Ilorin for their innovative agricultural ventures.
The graduates participated in BATNF’s Agripreneur Programme, which invited them to submit project proposals.
The winners include Mustapha Ibrahim with his Tomato Awakening Project (TAP), Olajire Adekunle Sherif for catfish production, Oluwadare Ogunmonye for Maize production, and Akinboye Anuoluwapo for scaling up Tomato paste production.
The award ceremony took place at the Faculty of Agriculture, Sasakawa extension hall, on the university campus recently.
In his welcoming address, BATNF General Manager Mr. Oludare Odusanya emphasized the foundation’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and sustainable development in Nigeria.
“The Graduate Agripreneur Programme is a testament to our dedication to nurturing young talents and promoting innovation in agriculture,” he stated.
Professor Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), representing the Vice-Chancellor, highlighted the programme’s align with the university’s mission to equip graduates with practical skills for economic growth.
On the part of Professor Oluyemisi Fawole, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, he praised the initiative for encouraging entrepreneurial spirit among graduates.
One of the beneficiaries, Akinboye Anuoluwapo, expressed gratitude and shared his aspirations: “This award will enable me to scale up my tomato cultivation project and contribute to food security in Nigeria.”
According to the organizers, the initiative aims to empower graduates with entrepreneurial skills and opportunities in the agricultural sector, driving economic prosperity and sustainable development.