Heifer International has awarded $40,000 in grants to three outstanding young agric innovators at the grand finale of the 2025 AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria, reaffirming its commitment to supporting youth-led enterprises and advancing Nigeria’s economic diversification through agriculture.
The AYuTe (Agriculture, Youth and Technology) Challenge, Heifer International’s flagship enterprise development program, identifies and supports early-stage, tech-driven agribusinesses led by young Nigerians. This year, over 1,000 applications were received, with the top five finalists pitching their innovative solutions before an expert panel. The three winners received $20,000, $12,000, and $8,000, respectively, to scale their enterprises.
Speaking at the finale, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, commended the ingenuity of Nigerian youth and emphasised the transformative potential of agritech. “We are on the cusp of a seismic shift in agriculture. It’s not about hoes and back-breaking labour anymore. It’s about smart farming, precision livestock management, and technology-driven agribusiness,” he said.
He projected the livestock sector, currently valued at $52 billion, could grow to $74 billion by 2035 if youth entrepreneurs are empowered to build sustainable agribusinesses. He also highlighted emerging opportunities in dairy, camel milk, hides and skins, and other livestock value chains calling them “not dreams, but business opportunities.”
Lekan Tobe, Country Director of Heifer International Nigeria, noted that the AYuTe Challenge is more than a competition. According to him, it is a platform for cultivating agri-preneurs and connecting them to the broader agricultural ecosystem. “Our goal is to catalyze a new generation of agri-preneurs who see agriculture as a business one that is profitable, sustainable, and scalable,” Tobe stated.
He noted also that with support from government ministries and private sector stakeholders, the AYuTe Challenge continues to position agriculture as a cornerstone for youth employment, economic growth, and national food security, reinforcing Heifer International’s long-term vision of ending hunger and poverty while unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential.
“This year’s AYuTe Challenge has been a resounding success. We received over 1,000 applications, carefully screened to select the top 50, and ultimately the top 5 finalists. But this challenge goes far beyond competition. It is a platform for nurturing ideas, refining innovations, and connecting youth to the larger agricultural ecosystem.
“We are proud to see that some of our past participants have now built thriving agribusinesses, employing others and scaling their impact across the country,”
Jafar Abubakar Uma, Director General of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), urged the finalists and attendees to engage with platforms like the NABG to tap into national and international agribusiness networks. “The challenge is not the absence of opportunity. It’s our readiness to seize it,” he said.
