In southern Nigeria, young people often struggle to access formal agricultural financing due to barriers such as lack of collateral, experience, and institutional trust. To address this, HortiNigeria partnered with Soilless Farm Lab (Eupepsia Place Limited) in 2023 to launch a youth-focused pitch competition in Ogun State. Rather than offering traditional loans or subsidies, the program invited youth to present scalable agribusiness ideas and compete for grant funding, marking a shift toward demand-driven, inclusive financial innovation.
This approach allowed young people to shape the types of support they received and helped surface promising ideas that might otherwise have been overlooked. One notable participant, Abraham Ogundijo, proposed scaling onion production in southern Nigeria—a region traditionally reliant on supply from the north due to climatic and technical challenges. With training from HortiNigeria on improved farming practices and market strategies, Abraham entered and won the 2023 pitch competition, though initial setbacks affected his yields. Undeterred, he returned in 2024, won again, and began implementing his vision.
Abraham was one of ten winners who received a grant of 1,000,000 Nigerian naira (about $650 USD). He invested the funds in essential inputs such as quality seeds, fertilizers, and drip irrigation systems, and established a 500-square-meter demonstration plot. By applying best agronomic practices, the plot showed strong promise, laying the foundation for a successful onion farming operation.
His determination and success have inspired other young people in his community, proving that with the right support and access to resources, youth can thrive in agriculture. Abraham has since expanded his operations and now mentors others, sharing his knowledge and encouraging wider adoption of onion farming in the south. He emphasizes the importance of replication, stating that success in onion farming can open doors for youth empowerment and improved food security.
Abraham’s progress has drawn attention on social media, helping promote horticulture as a viable career path. His story highlights the power of empowering youth not just with money, but with ownership of their ideas. By making funding contingent on pitching well-thought-out solutions, HortiNigeria turned beneficiaries into active problem-solvers.
The success of this financial innovation demonstrates how inclusive approaches can drive youth entrepreneurship and diversify Nigeria’s horticulture sector. Backed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the HortiNigeria program (2021–2025) seeks to build a sustainable horticulture sector that enhances food and nutrition security. It is led by IFDC and implemented with KIT Institute, Wageningen University & Research, and the East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation.
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