Proven Financial Services Limited has announced plans to raise N900 million through private placement, land sales, and director contributions to fund its ambitious expansion into agribusiness, housing, and education.
This initiative aims to empower farmers, tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit, and revolutionize agribusiness education.
Speaking in Abeokuta, the Group Managing Director, Olufemi Ogbiyele, detailed the funding strategy: N600 million from equity sales, N300 million from the sale of 300 plots of land, and N70 million from the company’s seven directors, each contributing N10 million.
He emphasised that the firm’s goal is to empower 250,000 farmers nationwide, providing them with inputs, training, and financial support to enhance food production and drive agricultural sustainability.
A major component of the initiative is Agribusiness University, Yewa (AUY), Africa’s first private university exclusively dedicated to agribusiness. Set to open in early 2026, AUY will focus on practical, income-generating education, training students in large-scale farming, agribusiness management, and food processing through its Agribusiness University Farm City.
Unlike traditional universities that emphasize theory, AUY will provide hands-on training, allowing students to earn income while they learn. It will also bridge the gap between agriculture, technology, and entrepreneurship, equipping graduates with financial and technical skills necessary to launch and scale agribusiness ventures.
Ogbiyele highlighted the university’s role in addressing the shortage of skilled manpower in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, stating:
Agriculture is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, yet it remains largely untapped due to a lack of skilled manpower and innovation. AUY will change this by developing agripreneurs ready to drive the sector forward.”
