‎‎This was made known at the recently held EDC’s AG-SME Bootcamp and Pitch Competition, a three-day, fully sponsored intensive Enterprise Development Center program for agric SMEs across the country.

The event, recently held at the EDC headquarters in Lagos, aimed to strengthen Agric-SMEs, deepen Business Development Service Provider (BDSP) linkages, and improve access to finance for young entrepreneurs.

‎Addressing business owners and entrepreneurs at the programme, Dr. Nnenna Ugwu, head of Alumni Relations and Support Services, and a member of the management board of EDC, said,

“We want to watch great entrepreneurs who have applied for this AG-SMEs empowerment programme. Those who win will each receive a grant of one million Naira to boost their businesses”.

According to her,

“They have gone through the Bootcamp, and shared fantastic business ideas, and also showed that incredible people are playing in the agric space with innovative ways of doing business. So, that’s practically why we are here, to select the best from the best.”

Speaking on the partnership with SMEDAN, AGRA, and Kaduna Business School, Dr. Ugwu stated that EDC’s relationship with Kaduna Business School, SMEDAN, and AGRA is cemented on the fact that they are willing to ensure that SMEs in the country take their rightful place as the true engine of growth of the economy.

SMEDAN is a regulatory body; therefore, everything about small businesses in Nigeria from the government’s perspective is on SMEDAN.

It is no brainer that we are partnering with the regulator, because EDC has been in this partnership long before I joined the organisation, she added.

“The truth is that if you want to do anything in terms of demonstrating the strength, supporting, and growing small businesses in Nigeria, the first go-to place is EDC. Then, of course, SMEDAN creates an enabling environment for us to thrive because of the government.”

‎‎Speaking on the impact of the partnership with other relevant organisations in the SME ecosystem, Dr. Stanley Ibeku, Lead, Research, Monitoring & Evaluation at the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University, said,

“We are here because the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Enterprise Development  Centre, (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and Kaduna Business School (KBS), have come together to be able to strengthen the capacity of agric SMEs so that they will be able to access available financing as well as have that capacity to be able to grow and scale their businesses by offering them different technical and managerial competencies, whether it is in investment, operation, management, personal and financial management.”

‎Revealing the winners of the grant, Dr Ibeku said,

“We have eight grant winners, and the cash grant of N1 million each to the eight SMEs,” adding that “We’ll also be providing business development support where we will engage business consultants who will work with these agric SMEs for three months, free of charge, courtesy of the project. These business development consultants will then help them to be able to take their businesses to the next level,” he said.

‎‎One of the beneficiaries, Ms. Damilola Awojobi, CEO of Dainty Foods, who lauded the project, said,

“It has been impactful. I would say it’s been eye-opening, those two words particularly, because my eyes were brought to see things again that I had formerly neglected as a business owner, things like, taking particular types of records and being deliberate about monitoring the flows that come into the business and out of the business, your capital investments, your credit investments and all of that, and how to gain access to all of these things in a matter of four days, it was a whole lot.  it was enlightening,” she added.

‎Another beneficiary, Dale Junaid, said,

“It has been an amazing experience. Meeting some facilitators who took us on personal finance, access to finance, management, and bookkeeping was enlightening. I have personally learned a couple of things that would improve my business going forward.”

“Therefore, I believe this programme has actually impacted a lot of people, including me, particularly when it comes to pitch preparation, slides, and investment readiness,” he added.

The virtual event featured expert contributions from AGRA, Agropedia, IITA/IsDB, Ikore International, Farm Monitor Africa, Extension Africa and the Environmental and Economic Resource Centre (EERC).

Setting the tone for the discussion, Dr. Fidelis Ekom, co-founder/managing partner, DIniti8tive, stressed that climate change has moved beyond prediction and is now a daily operational reality for communities and markets.

“Climate disruption is no longer a distant risk, but a lived experience for millions. Yet across Africa, we are also witnessing inspiring innovation and resilience. Africa cannot feed itself tomorrow with the systems of yesterday,” he said.

Moderated by Dr. Blessing Allen-Adebayo, the session underscored how rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, flooding, droughts and land degradation are reshaping livelihoods across the continent. Dr. Allen-Adebayo noted that Africa is warming faster than the global average, and because agriculture remains the backbone of most African economies, the consequences are immediate and far-reaching.

“This is one of the biggest threats to our food systems but also one of the greatest opportunities for bold, transformative action,” she added.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Ms. Ogheneovo Ugbebor, managing partner, Ikore International, Nkemjika Onuoha emphasised the urgency of rethinking agricultural systems in the face of escalating climate risks.

She highlighted that climate-induced disruptions could reduce crop yields by up to 20% by 2050, and Nigeria already loses billions annually to flooding, droughts and extreme weather.

 “These are not just statistics, they represent farmers, families, and futures,” she said, calling for stronger investment in climate-smart innovation, enabling policies and systems that can move proven solutions from pilot scale to national impact.

The need to convert climate threats into opportunities was further echoed by Mr. Munir Ahmad, Project Coordinator for the IITA/IsDB Tadamon Accelerated Agribusiness Project, who delivered the goodwill message.

He urged practitioners and development partners to focus on scalable, community-tested solutions that address real farmer constraints.

 “We must learn to use risk as an opportunity. Practical solutions must be backed by the right investment in farmer education and local support systems,” he stated.

One of the most powerful moments of the webinar came from the experiential sharing session led by Daniel Udeme-Joseph, CEO of Farm Monitor Africa.

Through the stories of smallholder farmers whose yields improved significantly with digital support, he illustrated how data, technology and climate-smart agronomy can transform outcomes for rural households.

Using a combination of satellite imagery, AI-powered crop calendars, real-time monitoring tools, and alternative credit scoring models, farmers supported by Farm Monitor Africa recorded 35% increases in yield, 31% increases in income, and 21% reductions in input waste.

“No one can solve all of agriculture’s problems alone, but everyone can take a piece and solve it well,” he remarked.

These insights set the stage for a rich panel dialogue featuring experts from across the agricultural ecosystem.

Representing Extension Africa, Nazeer Musa Ahmad, the Thematic Coordinator, Rural Structure Formation stressed the need to scale digital advisory systems capable of reaching last-mile farmers and helping them navigate unpredictable climate conditions. He highlighted the promise of AI-driven diagnostics, precision forecasting and digital extension services, while noting persistent challenges such as connectivity gaps and digital literacy.

From EERC, the Program Manager, Ronke Adeniyi shared evidence from Northeastern Nigeria and the Sahel, where techniques such as half-moon water harvesting, drought-tolerant seed varieties, solar-powered irrigation, organic amendments and farmer-led land restoration have proven effective against drought, flooding and soil degradation. She underscored the importance of embedding these interventions within community systems to ensure sustainability.

On the role of women and youth, Chief Bassey Archibong, CEO of Agropedia, emphasised the need for user-centered design in scaling climate-smart innovations.

He noted that trust, and not just technology, is critical for adoption. Women and youth, who drive much of Africa’s

Dr. Rufus Idris, country director at AGRA, provided regional lessons from AGRA’s interventions across Africa, calling attention to the foundational role of strong seed systems, soil fertility management, regenerative agriculture, solar-powered irrigation and innovation in reducing post-harvest losses.

He stressed that multi-stakeholder partnerships anchored in policy, research and private sector alignment are essential to scale.

Collectively, the experts underscored that while climate risks are intensifying, Africa possesses the ingenuity, talent and innovation ecosystem needed to transform its food systems.

The session concluded with a powerful call to action for coordinated investment, evidence-driven policymaking, digital inclusion and farmer-centered solutions capable of driving long-term resilience.

DIniti8tive and Agropedia reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining these conversations, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and amplifying practical innovations that can support millions of smallholder farmers across the continent.

Meet DIniti8tive

Digital and Technological Empowerment Innovation Initiative for Next Generation (DIniti8tive), is a Nigeria-based non-profit organisation committed to advancing digital inclusion, innovation, and resilience across Africa.

Through capacity-building, technology-driven programmes, research, and cross-sector partnerships, the organisation supports young people, communities and institutions to leverage digital tools for sustainable development.

DIniti8tive works to close the digital divide, strengthen climate and livelihood resilience, and promote equitable participation in emerging technological ecosystems, ensuring that the next generation is empowered to thrive in an increasingly digital world.