BATN Foundation has opened applications for the 2026 edition of its Farmers for the Future (F4F) programme, offering eligible National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members the opportunity to access a share of ₦10 million in equity-free grants alongside training, mentorship and business support to grow their agribusiness ventures.
The initiative, now entering its seventh cohort, is designed to encourage more young Nigerians to see agriculture as a viable business opportunity while contributing to national efforts to improve food security, create jobs and strengthen economic development.
At a time when Nigeria continues to face rising food costs, youth unemployment and increasing pressure to diversify its economy beyond oil, the BATN Foundation said the programme is focused on helping young people build sustainable agribusinesses capable of creating long-term value.
The Farmers for the Future programme specifically targets NYSC members across the country. Through the initiative, participants receive access to intensive entrepreneurial training, business development support, mentorship and market opportunities aimed at helping them transform innovative ideas into viable agribusiness enterprises.
Launched in 2019 in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) department, the programme has grown into a nationwide platform for youth agribusiness development. By leveraging the NYSC network across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the initiative has continued to attract aspiring agripreneurs from different parts of the country.
Participants go through a structured development process that begins with business ideation and virtual bootcamps. Selected applicants are then given the opportunity to pitch their ideas before industry experts, with the strongest proposals advancing to the final stage of the competition.
The top six finalists will share ₦10 million in equity-free funding and receive additional support through a year-long mentorship programme, technical assistance and access to professional and business networks that can help accelerate growth.
According to BATN Foundation General Manager, Oludare Odusanya, the programme is focused on building a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs capable of driving economic transformation.
“Young people have a critical role to play in shaping the future of agriculture in Nigeria. Through the Farmers for the Future grant, we are not just providing funding, we are building a generation of resilient agripreneurs equipped to drive economic growth, create jobs and strengthen food security,” he said.
Over the past six years, the initiative has recorded measurable impact across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, with 40 beneficiaries successfully transitioning from small-scale operations into structured agribusinesses.
The Farmers for the Future grant forms part of the BATN Foundation’s broader commitment to improving livelihoods through strategic investments in agriculture and enterprise development. Applications are now open to eligible NYSC corps members nationwide.