BATN Foundation highlights need to invest in Nigerian youth
The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation has emphasized the importance of investing in young Nigerians to drive economic transformation. The foundation marked the 2026 International Youth Day by calling for more support for youth education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Oludare Odusanya, the General Manager, stressed that young people have the potential to innovate and contribute meaningfully to society if given the right opportunities. The foundation has implemented several initiatives to empower youth, particularly in agriculture and enterprise development.
What we know
- The BATN Foundation marked the 2026 International Youth Day with a call for greater investment in young Nigerians.
- Oludare Odusanya highlighted the need for enabling environments that allow youth aspirations to flourish.
- The foundation has invested over ₦5bn in development initiatives, reaching more than 1.7 million Nigerians and empowering over 300,000 smallholder farmers.
- In 2026, ₦25.5m in equity-free grants were awarded to 17 young agripreneurs from three Nigerian universities through the Graduate Agripreneur Programme.
- Six participants will receive a total of ₦10m in equity-free grants this year under the Farmers for the Future programme, which is in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps.
