In effort to boost food production in the country, the MTN Foundation, in partnership with the Ogun State Government and the Federal Government, has launched AgriConnect, a digital agriculture platform aimed at empowering 1,000 smallholder farmers with mobile-enabled agricultural intelligence.
Speaking at the official launch held on Wednesday, 4 June, 2025, at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta, the Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Mrs. Odunayo Sanya, said the initiative would enhance food production by equipping farmers with critical digital tools and knowledge.
The project is a collaborative effort between the MTN Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the Ogun State Government, and Huawei Nigeria Ltd.
Sanya explained the goal of the initiative: “Through AgriConnect, we are leveraging mobile-enabled agricultural intelligence to equip our smallholder farmers with real-time weather updates, market prices, and best practices that will improve yields and boost incomes.”
She highlighted MTN Foundation’s longstanding commitment to socio-economic development in Nigeria, revealing that the organisation has invested over N32 billion since 2004 in areas such as capacity building, healthcare, and economic empowerment, impacting more than 33 million Nigerians.
“At the MTN Foundation, our vision is a Nigeria where no community is left behind—and AgriConnect brings us closer to that vision,” she added.
In his remarks, Governor Dapo Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to agriculture as a driver of economic growth and rural development.
“Ogun State ranks among the states with the slowest rise in food inflation. Our focus is not just on boosting productivity but on creating a holistic, technology-driven ecosystem that empowers our farmers with timely information and sustainable support,” the governor said.
“Nigeria has the capacity to feed itself, but we must leverage innovation to unlock that potential. With the President’s target of cultivating 500,000 hectares, and Ogun State’s leadership in mechanisation and off-taker linkages, this initiative is a step in the right direction,” he concluded.
