MOUAU announces grant for graduates in the field of Agriculture

The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), in partnership with the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), has officially announced the commencement of the Graduate Agriprenuer Project (Cohort 2). This initiative is designed to empower graduates with the resources needed to transform agricultural passion into sustainable business enterprises.

​The Opportunity

​The intervention aims to support four (4) selected graduate Agriprenuers—both male and female—with a grant of one million, five hundred thousand naira (₦1.5m) each to fund their specific agricultural projects. The total grant pool for this cohort stands at ₦6 Million.

​Eligibility Criteria

​To be considered for the grant, applicants must meet the following strict requirements:

​Academic Background: Must be a graduate of agriculture (CCSS, CASAP, CNREM, or CAERSE) from MOUAU.

​Service Status: Must have completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.

​Age & Recency: Applicants must be between 21–35 years old and must have graduated within the last 5 years.

​Commitment: Must be ready to establish their agribusiness within the university premises for the duration of the program.

​Experience: Must demonstrate prior entrepreneurial skills or involvement in agricultural enterprises and possess market access independent of the university’s pre-identified market.

​Legal: Must have a registered business or be willing to register it before funds are disbursed.

​Mentorship: Must be willing to provide technical training to students on Farm Practical Year Training Programs (FPYTP) and other trainees.

​Application Requirements

​The project proposal is a critical part of the selection process and must include:

​Specific focus on Poultry, Livestock, or Aquaculture production.

​Analysis of the relevance of the chosen field to current socio-economic conditions.

​Evidence of production or value-addition experience.

​A detailed work plan and activity-based time frame.

​A comprehensive budget broken down by activity/line items.

​Marketability experience and a strategy for long-term profit and sustainability.

​Submission Details

​Interested and eligible graduates are required to submit soft copies of their grant application and project proposal to the Project Management Committee.

​Submission Email: [email protected]

​Deadline: Wednesday, March 18, 2026

​Important Note: Proposals submitted after the deadline or those that fail to follow the specified format and eligibility criteria will be automatically rejected.

​Announcer:

Prof. N.M. Agwu

For: MOUAU-BATNF Agriprenuership Programme