FCMB AgriTech Hackathonโฃ Fuels Innovation in Nigerian Agriculture
First City Monumentโ Bank (FCMB) recently concluded its 2025 AgriTech hackathon, a collaborative effort with โthe Dutch Entrepreneurial Progress Bank and HeaveVentures, to foster innovation and digital transformation within Nigeria’sโ agricultural sector. The โขevent brought together promising startupsโฃ focused on tackling key challenges in the Nigerian food and farming industry.
Seven startups were selected to participate, showcasing solutions with the potential โฃto improve food production, strengthen agricultural value chains, and boost overall industryโ performance.Afterโค rigorous pitching, demonstrations,โ andโ mentorship fromโฃ industry experts, Qiqi Farms emerged as the overall winner, recognized for โฃits innovative approachโฃ to farmer productivityโ and market access. Farmโฃ Monitor โขtook secondโข place, and Tuplant secured third with its โฃcrop efficiency andโฃ farmer support solution.
All participating teams – including Llyon Farms,AgriX,Freshfare,and PalmShops – received N1 million in consolation grants from FCMB to support continued development and market readiness.
Kudzai Gumunyu, Divisional Head of Agribusiness and Non-Oil Exports at FCMB, emphasized the bank’s dedicationโ to supporting young innovators shaping the future of agriculture. He highlighted the hackathon as a vital platform providing startups with funding, mentorship, and โขmarket access. FCMB believes digital innovation is crucial for Nigeria’s agricultural competitiveness on a global scale.
Abiodun โขLawal, CEO of HeaveVentures, praised the power of partnerships betweenโ financial institutions and the tech community, and commended the startups’ creativity โand โresilience. He noted their solutions demonstrate technology’sโ potential toโฃ enhance productivity,sustainability,and food security acrossโฃ Africa.
FCMB reaffirmed itsโ commitment to food security,agricultural exports,and Nigeria’s digital economy,promising continued collaboration and investment in enduring finance and agriculturalโ innovation. Stakeholders anticipate the hackathon will inspire further development of scalable solutions โฃto increase yields, reduce losses, and attract investment into the Nigerian agricultural value chain.