The United Kingdom’s development finance institution, British International Investment, has committed $7.5 million to Babban Gona, a Nigerian agri-tech platform.

Unveiling the investment at a Lagos signing ceremony on Tuesday, BII said the funding will enhance food security and climate resilience for smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria.

UK trade envoy to Nigeria, Florence Eshalomi, noted that the investment will also help scale Babban Gona’s tech-driven model, giving farmers access to finance, training, and essential services to boost yields, incomes, and climate resilience.

“From early-stage UK support through Propcom Maikarfi to this milestone investment, Babban Gona’s journey is a powerful example of what’s possible when we invest in Nigeria’s agricultural future,” she said.

“This partnership reflects the UK-Nigeria commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth, and I’m excited to see the impact it will generate.”

BII’s West Africa regional director and head of Nigeria office, Benson Adenuga, described the partnership with Babban Gona as a prime example of using “catalytic capital” to back 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,” he said.

“This investment will deliver tangible impact at scale, strengthening food security and climate resilience.”

Also at the event, Babban Gona’s managing director, Kola Masha, highlighted the British government’s pivotal role in the company’s journey, noting it was “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 10x larger is a powerful testament to our shared vision for bettering the lives of smallholder farmers,” he said.

“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.”

Meanwhile, the British deputy high commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, said the investment underscores the importance of a private-sector approach in Nigeria’s agricultural markets.