The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) has awarded the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation the Longstanding Investment Recognition and Making a Positive Impact Award for its contributions to sustainable agricultural development.
At a ceremony held at Lagos Continental Hotel, the Foundation was honoured for its two decades of work in rural Nigeria, where it has invested over ₦4 billion in agricultural and community development initiatives.
“This recognition validates our approach to meaningful rural investment,” said Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of the Foundation, speaking with reporters after the ceremony. “We’ve always believed that sustainable agriculture is key to transforming Nigeria’s rural economy.”
Read Also: Air Peace suspends flights into Enugu airport over safety concerns
Since its establishment, BATN Foundation has implemented more than 300 community projects across all 36 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory, reaching approximately 1.7 million Nigerians.
The Foundation’s work particularly focuses on smallholder farmers, with over 300,000 benefiting from capacity-building programmes and agricultural training. These initiatives have helped farmers increase crop yields and improve produce quality, leading to more sustainable incomes.
Beyond agricultural support, BATN Foundation has installed 105 solar-powered borehole facilities throughout rural Nigeria, each capable of holding 20,000 litres of water.
The NACC award highlights organisations making sustained investments in Nigeria’s development. BATN Foundation’s programmes align with several Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, clean water access, and economic growth.
Looking forward, Odusanya emphasised the importance of partnerships in scaling the Foundation’s impact. “We’re committed to working with government agencies, private sector partners and community organisations to continue this transformation journey,” he said.
