Pan-Atlantic University Partners With SMEDAN and AGRA to Award Grants to Nigerian Agricultural Entrepreneurs

Pan-Atlantic University’s EDC partners with SMEDAN and AGRA to provide one million Naira grants and technical training to Nigerian agricultural entrepreneurs.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 15, 2026, 5:05 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Leadership

A Multi-Agency Alliance for Agricultural Growth

The Nigerian agricultural sector has received a significant boost through a new partnership between the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). This collaboration, which also includes the Kaduna Business School, is designed to enhance the operational capacity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the agricultural value chain. By pooling resources and expertise, these organizations aim to position agric SMEs as the primary engine of economic growth in the country.

Grant Awards and Competitive Innovation

The initiative reached a milestone at the recently concluded AG-SME Bootcamp and Pitch Competition held at the EDC headquarters in Lagos. During the three day intensive program, young entrepreneurs presented innovative business models to a panel of experts. Dr Nnenna Ugwu, Head of Alumni Relations and Support Services at EDC, confirmed that the top eight performers were selected to receive a grant of one million Naira each. These funds are intended to serve as seed capital to scale existing operations and implement the new strategies developed during the training sessions.

Bridging the Gap Between Regulation and Enterprise

A key component of this partnership is the involvement of SMEDAN, which serves as the primary regulatory body for small businesses in Nigeria. Dr Ugwu emphasized that partnering with the regulator ensures that the support provided to entrepreneurs aligns with the government’s economic framework. This synergy between the private academic sector and state regulatory bodies creates a more enabling environment for small businesses to thrive, while allowing the EDC to demonstrate its strength in professional entrepreneurship development and support services.