SMEDAN awards N5m to post-harvest losses innovators
By Lucy Ogalue
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has awarded N5 million to three young Nigerian innovators with outstanding ideas to tackle post-harvest losses in the agricultural sector.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, commended the participants for their ingenuity at the inauguration in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony was held under the SMEDAN Talent Hunt initiative, in partnership with Microvis Microfinance Bank and Baobab Microfinance Bank.
The overall winner received a cash prize of N2 million, the first and second runners-up received N1.5 million and N1 million respectively, while other participants also went home with consolation prizes.
The competition, which attracted young talents from across the country, provided a platform for participants to pitch creative solutions aimed at improving food preservation and reducing agricultural waste.
According to Odii, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda through the GROW strategy, championed by SMEDAN.
“Nigeria’s future lies in the hands of our innovative youth. With the right support, their ideas can solve national problems and create jobs,” he said.
Odii reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting youth-driven innovations and providing opportunities that contribute to national development.
Also present at the event were representatives from the Federal Institute for Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), who pledged continued support for homegrown innovations.
Over the years, the SMEDAN Talent Hunt has featured diverse sectors, including fashion, poetry, film production, ICT, and technology.
It offers not only funding but also national recognition and access to business development support. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chioma Ugboma
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