GRANT AWARD TO STARTUP INNOVATORS

The Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) has selected a number of eleven (11) startup innovators to benefit from their startup grant scheme. The selection was done through two competitive processes. The innovators will receive both technical and financial support within the next three months to upscale their products. They were awarded the sum of Six Hundred thousand Naira each (#600,000) by the Vice Chancellor on Thursday 18^th May 2023 at the Benue State University Senate Chambers.

The first ten (10) beneficiaries were selected through the “Agro Hack Challenge”. This program was done in partnership with the UNDP (Through the Benue Agribusiness Innovation Hub – BAI Hub) and the First City Monument Bank (FCMB). The Challenge pulled over one thousand applications from all over Nigeria with solutions that were centered on controlling food loss, food processing, fabrication of equipment and promoting globally recognized agricultural processes.

The additional one (1) Startup innovator was a result of a strict competition judged by a startup committee that was made up of experts in Entrepreneurship and innovation.

The selected startups are currently undergoing a three (3) months incubation (booth camp) during which they will interact with experts in different fields for technical support and undergo some training on market research, product development, testing and validation, business model canvas, business competency, financial modelling, legalities, team and leadership development, and innovator business branding.