The National Youth Service Corps in collaboration with the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment with the renewal of an agribusiness development initiative aimed at young Nigerian graduates.
The partnership was recently formalised in Abuja with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding that extends an existing collaboration for another three years.
The agreement continues the Farmers for the Future programme, a project that focuses on supporting corps members with practical tools, funding and guidance to build viable agribusiness ventures.
Under the renewed arrangement, selected corps members with strong agricultural business ideas will receive financial support and technical backing to turn their concepts into sustainable enterprises.
The programme combines grant funding with mentorship, training and ongoing supervision to ensure long term impact and accountability.
The foundation’s general manager, Oludare Odusanya, described the renewed agreement as a continuation of a partnership that has proven its value over time.
He noted that the initiative goes beyond financial assistance by creating a structured support system that helps young people view agriculture as a profitable and scalable business option rather than a subsistence activity.
As part of the new cycle, up to ten million naira will be made available to support six outstanding corps members through a competitive selection process. The top beneficiary will receive three million naira, while two others will receive two million naira each. Three additional participants will receive one million naira each.
The support will be provided in both cash and practical inputs, with disbursement and monitoring handled by an independent partner to ensure transparency.
Participants will also undergo an intensive capacity building programme that includes a boot camp, expert led mentorship sessions and regular project assessments.
