14/10/2025
From 22nd – 24th September 2025, the Niger State Social Investment Programme (SIP) Office participated in a 3-Day Intensive Training on Agricultural Business Development Services (BDS), held in Minna, Niger State.
The program, organized by AGRA, Kaduna business school (KNS), SMEDAN, and the Enterprise development centre (EDC) with support from international partners, focused on systems strengthening for effective BDS provision and improved access to finance for agricultural MSMEs in Nigeria.
The key highlights from the training includes:
🟣 Understanding the BDS–SME Interface: Building stronger linkages between agribusinesses and business development services.
🟣 Policy Frameworks: Exploring Nigeria’s agricultural policies to support msme growth.
🟣 BDSP Interventions: Applying diagnostic tools, consulting, coaching, and mentoring for small business support.
🟣 Applied Curriculum: Utilizing a dacum-based approach to ensure measurable impact across value chains.
🎯 Training Outcomes:
🟣 Strengthened institutional capacity to effectively engage msmes.
🟣 Improved knowledge of policy, intervention strategies, and access-to-finance mechanisms.
🟣 Enhanced consulting, coaching, and mentoring skills.
🟣 Contribution to sustainable agribusiness growth and rural prosperity in niger state.
This initiative marks a strategic step toward building resilience in nigeria’s agribusiness sector, expanding opportunities for smallholder farmers and agricultural SMEs across priority value chains.