TAO Backs Young Agripreneurs in Tertiary Institutions to Boost Nigeria's Food Security

News in Brief

-The Agriculture Option (TAO) is bringing digital expertise and practical agribusiness training to Nigerian tertiary institutions.

-It has launched a fish farming collaboration with Aquatech College of Agriculture, Oyo, and is expanding into livestock and crop production projects in other educational institutions.

The Agricultural Option (TAO), an agricultural transformation project, is investing in students across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to boost food production by empowering the next generation of agripreneurs.

Through partnerships with institutions such as Aquatech College of Agriculture (Oyo State), Adekunle Ajasin University (Ondo State), and others, TAO is working with selected universities and communities to promote sustainable food production and modern agribusiness practices.

With the innovative TAO app and the technical support of its expert team, the initiative equips agriculture students with hands-on experience in smart farming and agribusiness—right on their campuses.

Fish farming partnership with Aquatech

TAO’s aquaculture expert, Mr Folaranmi Malik, who is supervising the project at Aquatech College of Agriculture, explained that the initiative involves working closely with both the students and the college to raise 3,000 juvenile catfish to table size over the next six months.

He is collaborating with a pilot team of 10 students who will fully utilise the features of the TAO ecosystem. From the expert-led Young Ranchers course to the innovative farm management solution Telagri and the agricultural intelligence platform Junction, the students are gaining practical exposure to modern tools. They will also benefit from BOAT, the ecosystem’s microfinance solution, which provides tailored financial support.

The young farmers’ team is already receiving project support, and activities for the fish culturing cycle have commenced in earnest.

“The TAO Project is designed to bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world application, giving students hands-on exposure to profitable and sustainable agribusiness models,” Mr Folaranmi said.

He also shared valuable insights from his wealth of experience in catfish farming with the students, urging them to see aquaculture not just as farming but as a business and a career path with immense potential.

Sustainable agribusiness with TAO

As part of its mission to champion sustainable agribusiness in Nigeria, TAO is laying the foundation for a viable model through its partnership with Aquatech.

Participating students, the institution, and TAO all benefit from a revenue-sharing arrangement designed to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the training farm.

According to the project representative, all parties have agreed on a fair percentage share of the farm’s proceeds without compromising its long-term operations.

More projects and plans

The company is planning additional farming projects in crop production and livestock, all to be implemented in partnership with young farmers and tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

According to Mr Folaranmi, a poultry farming project will commence in the coming week, following a similar pilot model that engages young farmers while helping them learn, earn, and grow.

“We are working to strengthen our projects at Aquatech and AAUA, and we plan to expand to the North very soon. A partnership with an institution in Bauchi State is already underway and will begin shortly,” he said.

These efforts, supported by collaborations with both government and private sector stakeholders, will make agriculture an attractive and profitable career path for young Nigerians while also contributing to national food security.