By Sunday John

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government, has trained 10 agribusiness startups to strengthen agricultural innovation, productivity and enterprise development in the state.

The initiative was implemented under the Nasarawa Agricultural Startup Acceleration Programme (NASAP), which concluded Thursday in Lafia with a Demo Day, where participating entrepreneurs showcased their innovations and business models.

Speaking at the event, Mr Ishigame Keiji, Chief Country Representative of JICA, said agriculture remained central to Nigeria’s economy and the livelihoods of millions of people.

Keiji identified access to markets, finance, technology and reliable information as some of the major challenges confronting farmers and agricultural businesses.

He said the challenges also presented opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions capable of improving productivity, increasing incomes and creating employment.

He explained that JICA was supporting such initiatives through training, partnerships, infrastructure development and access to finance.

Keiji said the agency was also working with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to prepare a startup investment fund targeting 50 million dollars, with agriculture among its priority sectors.

He added that JICA was supporting the development of a startup hub in Agbada through GroundAid to provide entrepreneurs with facilities and equipment to develop and test their ideas.

He urged the participating startups to remain innovative, embrace feedback and build strong partnerships, stressing that the Demo Day marked the beginning of greater opportunities for their businesses.

Earlier, Dr Elizabeth Onogwu, JICA’s Programme Coordinator, Private Sector Development, described NASAP as a pilot intervention aimed at extending the agency’s support to grassroots entrepreneurs beyond major cities.

Onogwu said JICA had previously implemented similar interventions in Benue before extending the initiative to Nasarawa in recognition of the state’s agricultural potential.

She said the 10 startups were selected based on the uniqueness of their business ideas, economic relevance and commitment to their enterprises.

According to her, the three-week programme is expected to help participants refine and standardise their products, improve competitiveness and prepare their businesses for investment and possible export opportunities.

Mr Sam Attah, Programme Coordinator of NASAP, said that the programme was designed to strengthen emerging agribusinesses through capacity building, mentorship, business advisory services and access to strategic partnerships.

He said the training covered business cost identification, sustainability, profitability, market projections, team development, financial management and business structuring.

Attah said the participants would present their business proposals to a panel of judges, adding that three of the most promising startups would be selected for immediate additional support from JICA and the state government.

He explained that the remaining participants would continue to benefit from mentorship and other opportunities within JICA’s network.

In his remarks, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, Managing Director, Nasarawa State Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA), represented by Dr Louis Azige, Vice President, Ease of Doing Business, said the state government had introduced reforms to improve the business environment and attract investment.

Azige said the government had established a One Stop Investment Centre and a Grievance Redress Mechanism to provide investors and business owners with platforms to address challenges affecting their operations.

He also disclosed that the state, with support from AGRA Nigeria, had developed an agricultural policy to guide investment, support local farmers and harness available opportunities in the sector.

Also speaking, Amb. Isaac Kigbu, Nasarawa State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), commended JICA for exposing agribusiness startups to innovations that could enhance their productivity.

Kigbu pledged AFAN’s support for the participating entrepreneurs and commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for prioritising agricultural development in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NASAP is expected to strengthen the state’s agribusiness ecosystem, encourage private sector participation, create employment and improve agricultural productivity. (NAN)

Edited by Isaac Ukpoju