The British International Investment (BII), the United Kingdom’s development finance arm, has approved a $7.5 million investment in Nigerian agricultural technology company Babban Gona.
The funding is structured to support smallholder farmers in Northern Nigeria, a region responsible for the bulk of the country’s maize production but hampered by low productivity, post-harvest losses, and climate-related risks.
According to BII, the commitment will enable Babban Gona to expand its artificial intelligence-driven platform that provides integrated services such as access to credit, quality inputs, agronomic training, and structured market channels.
The model also incorporates a franchise approach that empowers high-performing farmers to operate as micro-enterprises, extending services and financing to others in their communities.
The programme is projected to reach about 140,000 smallholder farmers by 2029, enhancing crop yields, household incomes, and resilience against climate shocks such as floods and droughts.
Farmers are expected to benefit from climate-smart inputs, drought-resistant seeds, and insurance products designed to cushion the impact of adverse weather conditions.
UK officials noted that the investment aligns with London’s broader objective of promoting sustainable development and food security across Africa. It also builds on recent BII agricultural investments in companies including AgDevCo and Johnvents.
Florence Eshalomi, UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria, described the initiative as a demonstration of the UK-Nigeria partnership in driving inclusive agricultural growth, adding that the financing would strengthen food supply chains while improving rural livelihoods.
Babban Gona’s Managing Director, Kola Masha, said the funding represents a major milestone in the company’s expansion plans.
He recalled that British support had been instrumental in Babban Gona’s early debt raise in 2013 and noted that the new capital underscores investor confidence in the company’s long-term impact strategy.
Masha affirmed that Babban Gona is committed to evolving into one of the world’s leading impact-driven agribusinesses with the capacity to transform the livelihoods of farmers across Nigeria.