The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University, in partnership with the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has launched an initiative to bridge agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with critical sector stakeholders, including financial institutions, business development service providers, and government agencies.
The platform, unveiled at an exclusive networking event in Lagos themed “Funding the Future: Powering Nigeria’s Agric-SMEs,” aims to help agribusinesses discover effective strategies to secure funding, scale operations, and achieve sustainable growth. The event brought together stakeholders from across Nigeria’s agricultural sector to explore partnerships and funding models that can unlock the sector’s potential.
Reaffirming EDC’s commitment to supporting small businesses, the Head of Alumni Relations and Support Services at the Centre said the initiative is designed to empower agric-SMEs to access financing and growth opportunities comparable to those available in other countries.
“Today, we are utilising Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) to support small businesses on the AGRA platform and explore how they can be funded. And when we mean funding, it is funding that works, funding for the future, and sustainable funding,” she stated.
The platform is expected to enhance the competitiveness of agric-SMEs by improving their access to finance, building capacity, and strengthening their linkages with larger players in the agricultural value chain. By creating direct pathways between entrepreneurs and industry actors, the initiative could help small businesses overcome long-standing funding barriers, expand production, and contribute more significantly to Nigeria’s food security and economic growth.
Stakeholders say the collaboration reflects a growing recognition that targeted support and strategic partnerships are essential to unlocking the potential of agriculture-focused SMEs, which play a vital role in job creation, innovation, and rural development.
