British International Investment Commits $7.5m to Boost Food Security and Climate Resilience in Nigeria

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British International Investment (BII), the United Kingdom’s development finance institution and impact investor, has announced a $7.5 million debt investment in Nigerian agri-tech platform, Babban Gona, aimed at strengthening food security and building climate resilience for smallholder farmers in Northern Nigeria.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lagos, Benson Adenuga, West Africa Regional Director and Head of Office for Nigeria at BII, highlighted the significance of the partnership.

“Our partnership with Babban Gona is a great example of how BII is using catalytic capital to support innovative, high-impact business models that transform lives and economies. By backing this pioneering franchise model, we are not only addressing a critical financing gap but also helping to build a more resilient and productive agricultural sector and support smallholder farmers in a region that is often overlooked by investors. This investment will deliver tangible impact at scale, strengthening food security and climate resilience.”

He further explained the strength of Babban Gona’s business model.

“Babban Gona’s offering is designed to overcome these structural barriers by providing comprehensive end-to-end services for smallholders via its AI-powered platform, including high-quality agricultural inputs, financial credit, training on climate-smart practices, and support with harvest, storage, and access to market

Also speaking at the event, Florence Eshalomi MP, UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria, praised the investment.

“Today, I’m proud to stand alongside British International Investment (BII) as we announce a $7.5 million investment into Babban Gona, a pioneering social enterprise transforming smallholder agriculture in Nigeria. This investment will help scale an innovative, tech-enabled model that empowers farmers with access to finance, training, and services, boosting yields and incomes while building climate resilience.”

On his part, Kola Masha, Managing Director of Babban Gona, expressed appreciation for the long-standing support from the British government.

“The British government played an instrumental role in our story, becoming the first institutional investor in our 2013 public debt raise. Now, a little more than a decade later, to have British International Investment commit an amount 10 times larger is a powerful testament to our shared vision for bettering the lives of smallholder farmers. We are thrilled to have them partner with us in this next phase of our journey as we accelerate the impact of our work, with the ambition to become the earth’s highest-impact business.”

The investment marks a major boost for Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which continues to face structural challenges, while also underscoring BII’s role in deploying capital to support sustainable development across Africa

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