Written by Application Deadline: 16 October
Applications are now open for the 2026 AGRA–SMEDANYouth Agri‑InnovationContest. Agriculture employs more young Nigerians than any other sector, yet many agripreneurs struggle to reach advice and capital.
Requirements
- Nigerian youth aged 18 to 35
- Running an agribusiness, or building one
- From any state in Nigeria
- Working in maize, rice, soybean or allied agrifood value chains
- At any stage, from idea to established business
Benefits
- Certified access-to-finance training
- Pitch rounds judged by expert reviewers
- A live Grand Finale and Deal Room with financiers
- Seed capital and support for ten winners
- Six months of mentorship and aftercare for winners
10
winners receive seed capital and support
30
finalists pitch live at the Grand Finale
100+
youths trained in access to finance
6
months of aftercare for winners
Deal Room
Meet the people who fund agribusiness
Banks, development finance institutions, agri-lenders and impact investors.
Showcase
Be seen by financiers
Outstanding innovations are profiled in an Innovation Showcase Register. Every applicant receives feedback.
Training
Certified, in English and Hausa
An eight-module access-to-finance programme that makes youth ventures investable.
Application Timeline:
- 8 to 16 October: Apply – Apply online in three short stages. Save and continue any time.
- 17 OctoberNationwide: Training – Virtual training for all applicants.
- 21 to 22 October : In-person Training – Two days of in-person training in Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna.
- 29 October : Pitch & Grand Finale – Hybrid: finalists pitch live, in the room and online.
- 8 to 10 November: National Showcase & Award – The national showcase and award ceremony in Lagos.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the AGRA–SMEDANYouth Agri‑InnovationContest