The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), in collaboration with the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), has rewarded outstanding participants at the end of its North-West Regional Capacity Building Programme in Kano, following a competitive assessment designed to test their knowledge of financial management and business practices.
SolaceBase reports that the programme, which focused on bridging the livestock agribusiness finance gap, concluded on Friday with participants drawn from Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Speaking at the closing session, the Capacity Building Manager of DBN, Fortune Tamunokuro Granville, said the assessment was conducted to evaluate participants’ understanding of key training modules, particularly financial literacy and financial management.
He explained that the test, which comprised 50 multiple-choice questions, was aimed at ensuring that livestock entrepreneurs acquire the knowledge required to formalise their businesses and become eligible for funding.
“The essence of the programme is to ensure access to credit for livestock farmers, and that can only happen when they understand financial management and properly structure their businesses,” he said.
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Granville noted that the process was transparent, as scripts were independently marked without interference from project officials.
According to him, the top-performing participants from each of the four states received grants of one million naira each to support their businesses.
He added that two female participants who emerged among the highest scorers were also awarded N250,000 each, in line with DBN’s commitment to gender inclusion.
“In total, we had six winners. This is to encourage them to apply what they have learned and continue improving their businesses,” he said, adding that the bank is also considering a mentorship programme to support beneficiaries beyond the training.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Bashir Sunusi, who represented the Commissioner, Dr. Danjuma Mahmud, said the workshop had provided a platform to address critical financing challenges affecting the livestock sector.
He noted that discussions during the programme highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among government, financial institutions and private sector actors to unlock opportunities across the livestock value chain.
Sunusi reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to supporting agricultural transformation and creating an enabling environment for agribusinesses to thrive.
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“The insights generated here must be translated into concrete actions that will benefit farmers, processors and other stakeholders,” he said.
On their parts, some of the participants described the training as impactful, noting that it had equipped them with practical knowledge to improve their businesses.
One of the winners, Dr. Mu’iz Bakari from Kaduna State, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying the training had exposed him to better ways of managing and expanding his livestock enterprise.
“What we have learned will be applied directly to our business. We will correct our mistakes and expand, especially in poultry production,” he said, adding that the grant would be used to grow his farm and create employment.
Similarly, Usman Abdullahi Usman from Kano State said emerging among the top participants out of over a hundred attendees was both surprising and motivating.
“This support will help me expand my business and should encourage others to take such opportunities seriously and work hard,” he said.
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Other winners include Nasiru Lawal from Sokoto State and Idris Umar from Zamfara State, while the additional female awardees are Fatima Sani from Sokoto and Hafsat Ololade Akin from Kaduna.
The programme brought together stakeholders across the livestock value chain, including farmers, financial institutions and development partners, as part of efforts to improve access to finance and promote sustainable agribusiness growth in the region.
