Centre for Dryland Agriculture doles out N7.5m to Agrihacking 1.0 competition winners
TCentre for Dryland Agriculture ( CDA), Bayero University, Kano, Kano State, has rewarded five young entrepreneurs for showcasing best agribusiness plans and investment model pitches. The five teams of innovators who demonstrated exceptional innovation in various business ventures in agric ecosystem were rewarded with N7.5m to expand their business opportunities and create wealth.
Besides, the brilliant business starters will also, among other benefits, will be exposed to agribusiness mentorship and knowledge development at the CDA to further broaden their capacity to grow their products and market base. Announcing the winner at the ground finale of the Agrihacking 1.0, Head of the judges and former Director at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Hajiya Karimotu Babbangida, said the overall best, Hafzeema enterprise scored 60.5 points to claim the star price of N2m, while Zukogi ideolated cooking oil who scored 60 points clinched the second position with N1.750m.
Stem Innovation Hub, Miraco Farms and AG Dried Tomatas Flours, clinched the third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively. According to the lead judge, the contestants were judged base on ability to defend their production, team work, business model, impact, innovation, credibility, and market viability of their products.
Unveiling the rationale behind the Agrihacking 1.0, the Director, CDA, Bayero University, Professor Jibrin M. Jibrin, said the motive was to facilitate brilliant ideas in young and innovative talents in agribusiness ecosystem to provide solution to food security in the country.
“CDA over the years has made significant impact in the areas of academic and research development, but we believed we can also support young innovators who needed little notch in their entrepreneurship career to create more wealth and solve challenges in food production.
“So, the CDA organised what we call Agrihacking 1.0 to bring together the talents between ages 18 and 35 to pitch ideas about their businesses and show the panel why the CDA should invest in them with support of seed money to grow their wealth.
“And more importantly, the winners would also be supported with mentorship and connect them with market where they grow their businesses from strength to strengthen,” noted.
Representative of Hafzeema Enterprise, the star prize winner, Halimatu Sagir Musa applauded the CDA for the support and enabling environment for the young entrepreneurs to showcase their wealth of business ideas.
She stressed that the money support and mentorship will further widen their production and market viability and creates more job opportunities for teaming youths.