In a bid to fuel entrepreneurship and innovation in the agricultural sector, the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) at Bayero University, Kano is thrilled to announce the launch of the AgriHack Accelerator Program. This dynamic initiative, propelled by the success of the AgriHacking 1.0 in 2023, seeks to unearth and nurture innovative ideas within the agricultural value chain, with a deep focus on empowering young and women entrepreneurs. Through the CDA’s ACE-impact activities sponsored by the World Bank and AFD, the program is run in partnership with Opolo Global Innovation Limited, a pan-African incubator and accelerator focused on nurturing talents to become global innovators, solution developers, and entrepreneurs.
Objectives of the AgriHack Accelerator Program
This initiative reflects the CDA’s commitment to supporting young entrepreneurs with exceptional ideas and fostering innovation in the agricultural landscape in Africa. Specifically, AgriHack Accelerator will:
- Provide mentees with essential skills for the development and management of successful agricultural businesses.
- Foster a deeper understanding of the agricultural innovation landscape by connecting mentees with local and global mentors.
- Assist agripreneurs in crafting robust business plans, pitching ideas effectively, and navigating financial aspects, including fundraising and financial schemes.
- Instill knowledge about legal and intellectual property matters, team building, customer identification and segmentation, marketing strategies, and sales acceleration.
- Cultivate a supportive and thriving community of agripreneurs, and providing networking opportunities that will aid their scaling.
Benefits for Participants
- Full access to intensive and well-structured sessions featuring live business case scenarios.
- Funding of up to ₦2 million grant support.
- Access to seasoned mentors in the industry.
Criteria for Participants and Startups
- Graduates and undergraduates of BUK and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
- Age requirement: 18 – 45 on the day of submission.
- Residency in Nigeria with a valid Nigerian identity.
- Innovative ideas for business enterprise development.
- Females strongly encouraged to apply.
- No criminal record related to corruption, tax evasion, financial impropriety, felony, or other offenses.
- Commitment to participating in a network of CDA AgriHacking Challenge.
- Agreement with the provided Terms & Conditions.
Other Eligibility Criteria
- Ideas/start-ups that have received seed funding from any other incubator are not eligible for seed funds.
- Funding for capital expenditure may not be encouraged.
- Minimum 3 months of incubation (mandatory) with RITEH-CDA after the pitching exercise.
Evaluation Committee
- Centre for Entrepreneurship, Research and Training, Bayero University Kano.
- Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnership, Bayero University Kano (TT office).
- Centre for Dryland Agriculture (Deputy Director Outreach and Publication)
- Abuja Technology Village Free Zone Company Abuja
- Agricultural Innovation Platform, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India.
- Opolo Global Innovation Limited.
- Prof. Luis Mira da Silva, University of Lisbon/World Bank Consultant
Start Date: January 22nd, 2024.
About Centre for Dryland Agriculture
The Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) is a World Bank–supported Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) established to serve as a regional training hub for the West and Central Africa (WCA) sub-region. Bayero University, Kano (BUK) established the Centre in 2012 as part of its effort towards addressing the development challenges of the dryland areas of the sub-region.
About the World Bank
World Bank provides a wide array of financial products and technical assistance and helps countries share and apply innovative knowledge and solutions to the challenges they face.
About Agence française de développement
The French Development Agency (AFD) group finances, supports, and accelerates transitions towards a more just and sustainable world. Climate, biodiversity, peace, education, urban planning, health, governance… Our teams are involved in more than 4,200 projects in Overseas Territories and 150 countries. We thus contribute to the commitment of France and the French to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
About Opolo Global Innovation
Ọpọlọ Global is an innovation enabler, incubator, and accelerator with a focus on nurturing talents to become global innovators, solution developers and entrepreneurs.
About Bayero University Kano
The Bayero University Kano (BUK) is a University situated in Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.