The funding is expected to scale up the company’s franchise model, boost food security, and help farmers withstand growing climate pressures.

Agriculture is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, accounting for about 25% of GDP and employing more than 70% of the workforce. However, smallholder farmers, responsible for producing around 70% of the nation’s food, still live below the poverty line, many earning less than $2 daily. 

In northern Nigeria, these challenges are even more severe due to poor soil quality, erratic rainfall, and limited access to modern farming practices.

Babban Gona’s model offers end-to-end support including credit, training, harvest and storage services, as well as market access. In enabling top-performing farmers to run micro-enterprises that distribute inputs and financing to peers, the company has doubled net incomes for many participants compared to the national average. With BII’s backing, Babban Gona aims to reach about 140,000 farmers by 2029.

“Our partnership with Babban Gona is a great example of how BII is using catalytic capital to support innovative, high-impact business models that transform lives and economies,” said Benson Adenuga, BII’s West Africa regional director and head of office for Nigeria. 

“By backing this pioneering franchise model, we are not only addressing a critical financing gap but also helping to build a more resilient and productive agricultural sector and support smallholder farmers in a region that is often overlooked by investors.”

Climate resilience stands at the core of Babban Gona’s approach. The company provides drought-tolerant seeds, climate-smart inputs, and insurance products that shield farmers from extreme weather shocks, essential in a country where floods in 2022 and 2024 destroyed crops and displaced thousands.

Since 2018, Babban Gona has deployed AI tools trained on over two million images to help farmers identify crop diseases with just a smartphone photo. Its offline-enabled mobile apps ensure that even those in remote, low-connectivity areas can benefit. 

The same AI technology is used to support antenatal care for rural women and English literacy programmes for children, expanding its impact beyond agriculture.

Kola Masha, Babban Gona’s managing director, noted how early adoption of AI shaped the company’s global standing. “Our early work in AI enabled us to build very strong relationships in the space,” he said. “We were one of 12 organisations around the world brought into a small monastery in Lake Como with the likes of Nvidia, OpenAI, and Google to think about the role of AI for global development.”

Beyond farming, Babban Gona is experimenting with sustainable transport solutions in rural areas, including two-wheeler e-bikes and charging stations, an initiative Masha describes as building “the equivalent of a Tesla for northern Nigeria.”

BII’s latest investment is a medium to back African agribusiness, following recent commitments to companies like AgDevCo and Johnvents. 

For northern Nigeria’s farmers, however, the impact could be more immediate, with access to finance, tools to survive climate shocks, and a chance to earn a dignified income.

Few days ago, British International Investment (BII), the UK’s Development Finance Institution (DFI) and impact investor, announced a $60 million trade finance facility for Access Bank Plc in Nigeria and five of its pan-African subsidiaries.

This will strengthen import and export capabilities amongst local businesses and plug the foreign currency supply gap.

The programme deepens BII’s commitment to bolstering financing environments in fragile economies and supports Access Bank’s strategy to enable continental trade. BII estimates the loan programme will stimulate African trade volumes by US$90 million.

The agreement reinforces BII’s ongoing relationship with Nigeria’s largest commercial bank by assets and facilitates the provision of systemic liquidity during a period characterised by a challenging macroeconomic environment.

Higher inflation and rising cost of capital have placed downward pressure on currency performance, both domestically and in the programme’s target markets of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zambia. Intervention at this critical juncture underlines the key role of BII, and development finance institutions in general, in extending countercyclical support to build economic resilience.

Between 80 and 90% of world trade is estimated to rely on the availability of trade credit, according to the World Trade Organization. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, that financing gap stood at US$82 billion in Africa, and it is increasing. Recognising the positive ripple effects of robust trade flows on economies and livelihoods, Access Bank is aiming to provide 15% of trade finance across Africa, by growing the trade books of its subsidiaries.

Currency instability in Nigeria can hinder the wider proliferation of dollar denominated trade loans across African markets, constraining countries’ ability to capitalise on opportunities opening up under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

By specifically targeting import dependent economies – many of which will mark the first engagement with BII’s Trade programme – the improved availability of US dollar denominated trade loans will ensure availability of key commodities and manufacturing inputs for the production and export of goods.

The key outcome will be improving livelihoods and preserving jobs for the employees of importers and exporters with limited access to foreign exchange trade loans.

With the loans channelled into companies in construction, manufacturing and FMCG, the programme will directly contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 8 (Decent work and economic growth) and 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure).

Simultaneously, the facility will improve inclusion. Qualifying under the 2X Challenge, aimed at strengthening female participation and leadership in business, Access Bank will ensure the allocation of loans is designed deliberately to advance its gender commitments.

In addition, the facility will contribute to BII’s BOLD programme, dedicated to enhancing the availability of finance at more affordable rates to Black, African-owned businesses.

Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director, African Subsidiaries at Access Bank, remarked: 

“Access Bank is on a purposeful mission to scale intra-African trade and position the continent as a viable market for global trade. Hence, we are thrilled about the tremendous potential that this trade finance facility with the BII affords us across our pan-African subsidiaries. This strategic collaboration not only strengthens our import and export capabilities but also expands our resources to support local industries – especially women-owned businesses – and ultimately drive economic growth. By stimulating trade volumes, we will be playing a key role in fostering long-term economic resilience for the continent, while increasing its attractiveness for increased foreign investments.”

Admir Imami, Director and Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance at BII, noted: “Access Bank is a long-standing partner of BII’s and our new partnership is a significant step closer to narrowing the trade finance gap in Africa, particularly in countries such as the DRC and Rwanda.    

Access to finance in fragile states is hugely constrained, often these countries are buffeted by macroeconomic events far beyond their control. BII and Access Bank share a conviction that building the resilience of these businesses by ensuring affordable access to foreign exchange is vital to keep intra-African trade moving and support the growth of inclusive economies.”  

Benson Adenuga, Head of Office & Coverage Director for Nigeria, BII said: 

“Our latest commitment to Access Bank reiterates our assurance to this leading multinational institution and to Nigeria. It comes at a time when Nigeria’s fragile economic situation needs additional funding, particularly from counter cyclical investors like development finance institutions. Our funding will help bolster the economy and ensure the availability of staple goods, medicines and food across Africa.”