AYuTe—short for Agriculture, Youth, and Technology—is Heifer International’s flagship initiative designed to support proven, farmer-ready innovations with the potential to reshape Africa’s food systems.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja on Thursday, Heifer International’s Nigeria Country Director, Dr Lekan Tobe, said the 2026 edition of the challenge will focus on climate-smart solutions that are technically sound and capable of improving livelihoods for the millions of smallholder farmers who sit at the core of Nigeria’s agricultural economy.
Tobe noted that while the regional AYuTe Africa Challenge awards more than US$1 million each year to top agritech innovators across the continent, national competitions—such as AYuTe Nigeria—offer prizes of up to $40,000 within each participating country.
He stressed that the programme goes beyond cash grants, serving as a launchpad for youth-led enterprises developing climate-smart, market-ready technologies that close gaps across agricultural value chains.
“Heifer will provide winners with catalytic funding totaling $40,000, with the grand prize winner receiving $20,000, the first runner-up $12,000, and the second runner-up $8,000. In addition to the cash prizes, Heifer will provide post-award business advisory support to translate their ideas into business expansion strategies.
“Our food systems require more than just incremental change; they require a transformative force. Through AYuTe, we are combining the power of African youth with the many possibilities of emerging technologies. We are not just awarding grants; we are nurturing an innovation pipeline that secures a sustainable and dynamic future for Nigeria’s agricultural sector,” he said.
Chuba Ezeigwe, Communications Manager at Heifer Nigeria, said that since the programme began in 2022, the challenge has received more than 2,000 entries and produced several winners—part of a broader push to position young people as central drivers of agricultural transformation.
He explained that the initiative prioritises solutions that respond to real farmer needs, while also backing enterprises that can scale sustainably and generate employment across rural communities.
In his words, “AYuTe is about seeing the big picture. By amplifying youth-led innovations, we are showing that young people are the architects of Nigeria’s agri-future. We are empowering changemakers to create jobs while solving the daily needs and challenges of smallholder farmers.”
Ezeigwe added that this year’s challenge will culminate in a grand finale in May 2026, when selected finalists will pitch their solutions for a share of the $40,000 funding pool.
