The Nigeria Agribusiness Register (NAR) has partnered with Propcom+ and other capital providers to expand access to investment for agribusinesses and support food security and economic growth.
The partnership was unveiled at the Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) Investment Deal Room in Abuja, where agribusinesses were connected with investors, financial institutions, development partners and private-sector stakeholders seeking viable opportunities in the agricultural sector.
Mr Nathaniel Odiba, Deal Room and Partnership Manager at NAR, said the initiative, led by NAR as the strategic lead of the Agribusiness Deal Room, was designed to connect promising agribusinesses with the capital, technical support and market opportunities needed to scale their operations.
Odiba said the Deal Room provided a structured platform for businesses to present their enterprises, financing requirements and growth plans directly to potential investors and commercial partners.
He added that engagements would continue beyond the summit where viable investment opportunities emerged.
According to him, the platform combined curated thematic pitch sessions with one-on-one meetings to enhance investment readiness and facilitate transactions capable of boosting food production, creating rural employment and supporting sustainable economic growth.
Dr Adiya Ode, Country Representative of Propcom+, said access to finance was only one of the challenges facing agribusinesses, stressing the need for businesses to improve their investment readiness while financiers required adequate information to assess opportunities and financing models tailored to agricultural enterprises.
She said Propcom+ supported the ASA Deal Room to strengthen connections between viable agribusinesses and the financial and commercial opportunities required to expand their businesses.
Ode said the programme was designed to establish a structured market mechanism capable of supporting businesses before, during and after the summit, rather than limiting engagements to introductions made at the event.
She said success would be measured by stronger relationships between agribusinesses and financial or commercial partners, improved investment readiness, increased transactions and greater private-sector investment across the agricultural market system.
Ode added that Propcom+ is an eight-year programme running from 2023 to 2030, supporting rural and agricultural market development, as well as climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture and forestry.
She said the programme’s interventions were designed to deliver benefits for people, climate and nature.
