For young Nigerians aged 18 to 35
AGRA–SMEDANYouth Agri‑InnovationContest
Finding, funding and scaling the next generation of Nigerian agripreneurs.
Applications open
8October
Applications close
16October
2026
Open to all of Nigeria
Applicants from every state are welcome.
- Apply
- Pitch
- Connect
- Grow
The programme
A contest and a classroom, built as one.
Agriculture employs more young Nigerians than any other sector, yet many agripreneurs struggle to reach advice and capital. We find the strongest youth-led ideas, train them, and put them in front of financiers.
Who can apply:
- 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
What the programme provides:
- 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
Women, rural youth and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Benefits
What you can gain.
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
Showcase
Be seen by financiers
Training
Certified, in English and Hausa
Focus areas
Four value chains, one goal.
Maize
From field to feed mill
Rice
Paddy to milled grain
Soybean
Protein and value addition
Allied commodities
Other agrifood value chains
How it works
From application to award.
Step 1
Apply
Three short stages online. Save and continue any time.Step 2
Screening
The strongest applications are shortlisted to a Top 100.Step 3
Pitch
Shortlisted applicants pitch to reach the Top 30.Step 4
Grand Finale
A live final and Deal Room (Thursday 10 December 2026) selects ten winners.
- Applications open
- 8 October 2026
- Applications close
- 16 October 2026
- Grand Finale and Deal Room
- Thursday 10 December 2026
Call for the panel
Mentor, judge or review: help young agripreneurs grow.
If you have experience in agribusiness, finance or enterprise support, we would like to hear from you.
Ready to show what you are building?
Applications open 8 October and close 16 October 2026.
Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Who can apply?
Nigerian youth aged 18 to 35 who run or are building an agribusiness, especially in maize, rice, soybean or allied agrifood value chains.
Do I need to live in a particular state?
No. The contest is open to applicants from every state in Nigeria.
Does my business need to be registered?
No. You will be asked for your registration status and, if you are registered with the CAC, your registration number.
Can I save my application and finish later?
Yes. Use “Save progress” at any time. Your answers are also kept on your device.
What happens after I submit?
You will receive an application reference number. Keep it for any communication with the programme team. Submitting does not guarantee selection.
Can I change my application after submitting?
Not through the form. Please contact the programme team with your reference number.
More questions? plusincubationhub@gmail.com