Niger Foods has trained more than 200 smallholder farmers in Minna on financial literacy in a bid to expand their access to formal financial services and strengthen their capacity to manage agricultural businesses.
The one-day training was organized by Niger Foods, in partnership with AGRA’s Niger State Project Officer, Godswill Aguiyi, and seven financial institutions
The initiative aligns with Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s agricultural transformation agenda, which seeks to promote sustainable and inclusive growth by empowering farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive.
During the session, facilitators introduced farmers to key financial management skills such as budgeting, planning, responsible borrowing, savings, investment strategies, risk management, and credit building.
Other participating institutions FCMB, The Alternative Bank, Jaiz Bank, LAPO Microfinance Bank, and FUT Microfinance Bank also showcased tailored loan and financing options, including crop and livestock loans, mechanization support, solar pump financing, and warehouse receipt facilities.
The event also saw many farmers who had never used banking services open accounts on-site.
Niger Foods explained that its partnership with financial institutions is geared toward developing farmer-centered financial products with repayment schedules aligned to farming seasons, ultimately improving financial inclusion and strengthening support for smallholder farmers across the state.
