British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, has committed $7.5 million in debt financing to Babban Gona, a Nigerian agri-tech platform, to enhance food security and climate resilience for smallholder farmers in Northern Nigeria. The announcement was made at a signing event in Lagos, with BII’s Nigeria Head, Benson Adenuga, describing the investment as catalytic capital aimed at scaling inclusive, tech-enabled models that address financing gaps in underserved regions.
Babban Gona supports smallholders through an AI-powered platform offering bundled services ranging from high-quality inputs and credit to training in climate-smart agriculture, storage, and market access. The UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Florence Eshalomi MP, hailed the move as a boost to UK–Nigeria trade relations and rural development.
Managing Director Kola Masha called the investment a milestone in Babban Gona’s journey, reflecting a decade-long partnership with the British government, and reaffirmed the company’s mission to transform lives at scale.
