The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has awarded a total of N5 million (approximately $3,300 USD) to three young Nigerian innovators who presented promising solutions to reduce post-harvest losses in the country’s agricultural sector.
SMEDAN Director-General Charles Odii praised the participants’ ingenuity at the award ceremony held in Abuja. The event was part of the SMEDAN Talent Hunt initiative, organized in partnership with Microvis Microfinance Bank and Baobab Microfinance Bank.
The overall winner received N2 million, while the first and second runners-up received N1.5 million and N1 million respectively. Other participants also received consolation prizes.
The competition attracted young talents from across Nigeria, providing a platform to showcase innovative approaches to food preservation and waste reduction in agriculture.
SMEDAN Director-General Charles Odii stated that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda, which SMEDAN is supporting through its “GROW” strategy.
“Nigeria’s future lies in the hands of our innovative youth. With the right support, their ideas can solve national problems and create jobs,” Odii said.
Representatives from the Federal Institute for Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) also attended the event and pledged their continued support for locally developed innovations.
The SMEDAN Talent Hunt has previously supported innovation in various sectors, including fashion, poetry, film production, ICT, and technology. This year’s focus on agriculture highlights the importance of addressing post-harvest losses to improve food security and livelihoods in Nigeria
