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First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Mastercard have launched AgroPass, a digital platform designed to expand access to finance, markets and agricultural services for smallholder farmers across Nigeria.
The platform, developed by Mastercard, connects farmers with input suppliers, buyers, lenders, agribusinesses, and other participants in the agricultural value chain, aiming to strengthen financial inclusion and improve productivity in one of Nigeria’s most important economic sectors. The launch combines Mastercard’s technology capabilities with FCMB’s network and presence in farming communities across the country.
Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, Yemisi Edun, Managing Director, FCMB, represented by Obaro Odeghe, Executive Director, Wholesale Banking, said:
“Supporting farmers means more than offering credit. It is about building connections to finance, markets, technology, knowledge and opportunity. AgroPass is a platform that empowers farmers to become more productive, resilient and commercially successful. By bridging critical gaps across the value chain, we can help build a more sustainable future for agriculture.”
Edun said FCMB provided more than 364.6 billion naira ($236 million) in financing to Nigeria’s agricultural sector last year and supported more than 196,000 smallholder farmers nationwide. Nearly half of the beneficiaries were women and young people.
Agriculture remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy, contributing more than 20% of GDP and supporting a significant share of employment across the country. Despite its importance, many smallholder farmers still face barriers to accessing financing, quality inputs, market opportunities, and technical support.
To address these gaps, FCMB has adopted a value-chain financing model that extends support across the agricultural ecosystem, including input suppliers, seed companies, farmers, processors, distributors and exporters.
“Our efforts are boosting agricultural productivity, increasing exports and creating lasting economic opportunities in rural communities,” said Kudzai Gumunyu, FCMB’s Divisional Head of Agribusiness and Non-Oil Exports.
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