The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University, in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has launched a new platform designed to expand funding and growth opportunities for agricultural small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria.
The initiative, tagged “Funding the Future: Powering Nigeria’s Agric-SMEs,” was unveiled during a two-day networking event in Lagos that brought together agribusiness owners, financial institutions, business development service providers, and government representatives. The forum focused on strategies for sustainable growth, access to finance, and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
Head of Alumni Relations and Support Services at EDC, Dr. Nnenna Ugwu, reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to equipping agricultural entrepreneurs with the right tools to attract investors and achieve long-term success.
“Today, we are utilising Business Development Service Providers 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 said.
Ugwu noted that while the EDC does not directly provide funding, it plays a critical role in preparing SMEs to access grants and seed investments. “We train entrepreneurs, guide them, and connect them with organisations that provide financial support,” she added.
Country Director for AGRA, Dr. Rufus Idris, said the collaboration aims to strengthen the ecosystem for business development service providers and empower agricultural SMEs to scale effectively.
“We’re here to see how to strengthen the ecosystem of business development service providers and ensure there’s a strong connection between SMEs seeking to grow and those providing the right kind of support,” Idris said.
He added that the initiative aligns with AGRA’s broader mission of transforming Africa’s food systems and boosting Nigeria’s agricultural productivity. “To feed our growing population and reduce post-harvest losses, we must empower private-sector players, especially agric SMEs, who face challenges such as limited access to finance, high energy costs, and market barriers,” he noted.
One of the participants, Chief Executive Officer of Doctor Fish Agric Consult, Israel Yusuf, praised the initiative as a timely response to the sector’s challenges.
“This is a welcome development that encourages collaboration among actors in the agricultural value chain. EDC’s approach shows that every challenge in agribusiness can be addressed through the right partnerships,” Yusuf said.
The partnership between EDC and AGRA is expected to unlock new opportunities for agricultural SMEs to access financing, strengthen their operations, and contribute to food security and inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.
