UK Invests $7.5 Million to Boost Agriculture, Food Security in Nigeria
The United Kingdom, through its development finance institution, British International Investment (BII), has committed $7.5 million to support agriculture and enhance food security in Nigeria. The funding, structured as a debt facility, is targeted at Babban Gona, a social enterprise and agritech company that operates a franchise-style model to empower smallholder farmers with access to credit, inputs, training, and climate-smart technologies. The investment is aimed at expanding Babban Gona’s reach in northern Nigeria, where agriculture remains a major source of livelihood but continues to face challenges such as inadequate financing, low productivity, and climate-related risks. With the support, Babban Gona is expected to scale its operations to serve more than 140,000 smallholder farmers by 2029, providing them with affordable farm inputs, financial services, and training to increase yields and improve income levels. The company also plans to introduce climate-resilient seeds, crop insurance, and AI-powered tools that will help farmers withstand environmental shocks like droughts and floods, which have disrupted food production in recent years. Speaking on the investment, Kola Masha, Managing Director of Babban Gona, said the partnership with BII would accelerate the company’s mission to make farming more sustainable and profitable for millions of smallholders across the country. He noted that the funding would help drive agricultural transformation by combining finance with technology and training. BII’s Regional Director for West Africa, Benson Adenuga, explained that the initiative reflects BII’s commitment to bridging financing gaps in agriculture while also encouraging follow-on investments from local banks and private partners. Similarly, the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, and Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Florence Eshalomi, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a significant step in advancing trade, development, and food security in Nigeria. Nigeria, despite its vast arable land, continues to face growing food security challenges due to low agricultural productivity, poor infrastructure, and increasing climate pressures. Smallholder farmers, who produce the bulk of the nation’s food, are often unable to access credit and quality inputs, leaving them vulnerable to fluctuating yields and low incomes. Experts believe that the BII-Babban Gona partnership provides a model that could transform rural farming communities by stabilizing food supply chains, reducing post-harvest losses, and improving resilience. The initiative is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening Nigeria’s food system at a time when rising inflation and insecurity in rural areas have placed further strain on farming activities. Observers will be monitoring Babban Gona’s ability to expand its impact, attract additional capital, and deliver measurable improvements in farmers’ productivity and livelihoods, outcomes that could contribute significantly to securing Nigeria’s food future.
