The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University, in collaboration with the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Kaduna Business School, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), has certified the first batch of 100 Agric-Business Development Service Providers (Ag-BDSPs) to strengthen business support for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The graduation ceremony, held at the EDC headquarters in Lagos, celebrated the successful completion of an intensive professional training programme aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge, practical skills, and advisory tools required to support the growth of small and medium-sized agribusinesses nationwide.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Director of the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr. Nneka Okekearu, said the initiative was designed to address the unique advisory needs of the agricultural sector by producing professionals with specialised expertise.
According to her, agriculture differs significantly from other sectors, making it essential for consultants to understand its peculiarities before offering business support.
“We have regular advisory services you can provide to any sector. But in agriculture, the issues, nuances, and peculiarities are different. So you need consultants who understand those peculiarities to advise and help them grow,” she said.
Dr. Okekearu described the graduation of the pioneer class as an important milestone in building a stronger support system for agribusiness development in Nigeria.
“This is our first cohort of 100 that EDC is graduating. AGRA is powering the initiative. Beyond the programme, there are platforms to deepen the agribusiness space, and these 100 consultants will be the first to be considered for agribusiness consulting,” she added.
She stressed that no business can attain sustainable growth without access to a robust ecosystem of professional support services.
“No small business can do well on its own. For them to grow, they need an ecosystem. Part of that ecosystem is consultants, business advisors, and facilitators. These certified Ag-BDSPs will guide businesses to survive and thrive. Once they grow, more jobs will be created, and there is a ripple effect.”
Also addressing participants, the Director of Programmes and Partnerships at EDC, Dr. Olawale Anifowose, noted that the training programme forms part of AGRA’s “Strengthening BDSP Ecosystem” project, which seeks to expand the pool of professionals capable of providing quality advisory services to agribusinesses.
“Today is the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of the Agric BDSP programme. We graduated 100. They have been prepared very rigorously to support SMEs in Nigeria with tools, resources, and models that will validate and help grow businesses in the Agric sector,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the newly certified consultants would help unlock greater opportunities for entrepreneurs operating across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
“What this will bring to the economy is immense. They are bringing new models, experience, and expertise that will truly unleash the next wave of Agric billionaires in Nigeria. With this first set of 100, we are confident that many entrepreneurs in the Agric sector will enjoy quality support from this cohort graduating from EDC.”
Representing SMEDAN, Deputy Director of Strategic/Private Partnerships, Olubunmi Kole-Dawodu, who delivered the keynote address, described the initiative as a vital step towards transforming agriculture into a commercially driven industry rather than a subsistence occupation.
“If you Google Nigeria, the most common occupation is agriculture. It is time to turn agriculture into a real business. To do that, we need people who can handhold farmers and processors to see it as an enterprise, not subsistence,” she said.
She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to connecting small and medium-sized enterprises with qualified business development experts to improve productivity and sustainability across the sector.
“SMEDAN is like the mother in the space. We will look to support SMEs and match them with these business development service providers. We intend for this training to continue because more people in agriculture are how our economy becomes sustainable.”
One of the newly certified Ag-BDSPs, Fayo Williams, Founder and Managing Consultant of Exponential Consult Limited, commended the quality of the programme, describing it as practical and transformative.
“The classes were very well delivered with interactive methodologies. Now that we have been equipped as agribusiness development consultants who can diagnose issues, help rural farmers, and improve food security, I feel empowered. I feel good about Nigeria. We can move forward and make an impact,” he said.
Williams also underscored the role of innovation and investment in unlocking the enormous potential of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“Agribusiness is essential. It is about our survival. It is possible if we have the mindset of innovation, enterprise development, and bringing investment into the agricultural sector. Then we can reap the fruits.”
The graduation of the pioneer class of Agric-Business Development Service Providers is expected to expand the network of qualified agricultural business advisors in Nigeria, strengthen value chains, improve market access for enterprises, stimulate job creation, and contribute to broader economic growth.
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