The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the BAT Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) have renewed their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen youth agribusiness empowerment initiatives across Nigeria.
The agreement builds on a programme first launched in 2019 under BATNF’s flagship Farmers for the Future (F4F) project, which aims to equip young Nigerian graduates with funding, mentorship, and skills to develop sustainable agribusiness ventures.
According to a statement, the renewed MoU will run for another three years, reaffirming both institutions’ commitment to promoting agricultural entrepreneurship among Nigerian youth and fostering economic inclusion.
Since its inception, the initiative has leveraged NYSC’s national platform to introduce corps members to agribusiness as a viable pathway for enterprise development, job creation, and national food security.
“The 2026 MoU represents the continuation and enhancement of a proven collaboration that has already delivered tangible benefits to young Nigerians,” the statement read. “The programme not only provides financial support but also mentorship and structured guidance, helping corps members turn innovative agribusiness ideas into sustainable ventures. It also positions agriculture as a modern, scalable enterprise rather than a subsistence activity.”
Under the renewed agreement, BATNF will provide up to ₦10 million in grant funding to support six outstanding NYSC corps members selected through a competitive process. The grants will be distributed as follows: ₦3 million for the first-place winner, ₦2 million each for two second-place winners, and ₦1 million each for three third-place winners.
Selected participants will also take part in an intensive development programme, including boot camps, mentorship sessions with agribusiness experts, and ongoing project monitoring. To ensure transparency and accountability, grant disbursement and oversight will be handled by an independent implementing partner.
Speaking on the renewed partnership, Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of BAT Nigeria Foundation, highlighted the significance of continuity, noting that the MoU reinforces a strategic partnership that has consistently unlocked youth potential in agriculture.
“The Farmers for the Future initiative goes beyond grant funding; it provides a structured mentorship and support system that encourages corps members to see agribusiness as a serious and sustainable enterprise pathway,” Odusanya said.
The MoU was signed on behalf of BATNF by Oludare Odusanya and Adetola Oniyelu, Project Manager, while NYSC was represented by Kehinde Aremu-Cole, Director of Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), and Barrister Christopher Ogar of the Legal Unit.
As part of the collaboration, NYSC will continue to leverage its national platforms, including orientation camps and digital communication channels, to raise awareness and drive participation among corps members. BATNF will oversee project implementation and provide detailed reporting at the conclusion of each project cycle.
