As 2024 draws to a close, the Empowering, Propelling, and Impacting Nutritious Food Businesses & Communities (EPIC) program has demonstrated remarkable strides in empowering nutritious food businesses across Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Oyo states. Through strategic planning, robust partnerships, and impactful activities, the program has laid a strong foundation for transformative change in Nigeria’s food ecosystem. Below are the key achievements of the program this year:

1. Exceptional recruitment success

The EPIC Program’s recruitment drive exceeded all expectations, with an overwhelming 619 applications received from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the target states. This number surpasses the initial target of 150 participants, highlighting the program’s relevance and the pressing need for support in the sector. This enthusiastic response not only reflects the sector’s growth but also poses an opportunity to broaden the program’s impact.

2. Strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement

A cornerstone of the program’s success has been the establishment of strategic partnerships with influential stakeholders:

  • Collaborations with the Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA), Climate Emerge Innovation Development (CEID) Hub, and the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems have been pivotal in enhancing the program’s reach and ensuring sustainable practices.
  • Engagements, such as the in-person meeting with the Director of Administration at the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, secured governmental support for the program.
  • Participation in the 2024 ESOs for Nutrition Convening in Abuja and the ESO Capacity Building Week in Nairobi convened by GAIN facilitated connections with new partners and bolstered stakeholder relationships.

    Inspire Decisions team at the GAIN ESO convening in Abuja

3. Robust infrastructure development

Key infrastructural advancements were made to support the program’s operations and ensure seamless communication:

  • Development of a dedicated online knowledge repository (https://inspiredecisions.com/gain/) for SMEs to foster collaboration and information sharing.
  • Creation of user-friendly online application forms to streamline participant recruitment.
  • Design of comprehensive training materials integrating insights from GAIN’s Business Model Research alongside its Nutrition and Food Safety Training and case studies.

4. Capacity-building initiatives

The program finalized the structure and content for its upcoming training workshops. These sessions will focus on enhancing MSMEs’ capabilities in business model innovation, financial management, marketing, and investment readiness. By integrating tools such as the GAIN business model resources, the training aims to deliver targeted, effective support to participating businesses.

5. Value chain prioritization

Efforts to categorize value chains across the target states have helped align program objectives with local needs, ensuring a targeted approach to supporting the nutritious food ecosystem.

6. Program kickoff and knowledge sharing

The official program kickoff in July 2024 marked the start of this two-year initiative. Through introductory meetings, stakeholder workshops, and virtual engagement sessions, the EPIC Program has successfully set the stage for impactful interventions.

7. High-impact activities

The year also witnessed key events such as:

  • An in-person training workshop in Oyo State to enhance participants’ capacity.
  • The highly successful Breakfast Webinar on October 18, 2024, which spotlighted innovative business models for nutritious food SMEs and drew wide participation.

An IDC-led in-person training workshop in Oyo State

The progress made in 2024 underscores the EPIC Program’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s nutritious food ecosystem. With a solid foundation laid this year, the program is poised for even greater impact in 2025, driving sustainability and innovation in the sector.

About the EPIC Accelerator

The EPIC Program (Empowering, Propelling, and Impacting Nutritious Food Businesses & Communities) is an initiative designed to support MSMEs in the nutritious food sector in Nigeria. Through training, mentorship, and investment facilitation, EPIC helps businesses scale sustainably while driving positive nutritional and economic outcomes.

About Inspire Decisions Consulting

Inspire Decisions Consulting (IDC) is a leading enterprise support organization committed to empowering MSMEs through tailored programs and strategic partnerships. IDC’s mission is to drive innovation, sustainability, and impact across various sectors in Nigeria and beyond.

About GAIN

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is an international organization dedicated to tackling malnutrition in all its forms. By working with governments, businesses, and civil society, GAIN supports initiatives that improve access to nutritious and affordable food for everyone.