By Mariam Abeeb
The Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) and Heifer Nigeria Ltd/GTE have signed a landmark two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand access to productive agricultural equipment through innovative equipment leasing solutions aimed at improving food security, increasing rural incomes and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.
The partnership, which runs from August 15, 2026, to August 14, 2028, will improve access to affordable agricultural mechanisation for smallholder farmers across Benue, Nasarawa, Ogun and Edo States under Heifer Nigeria’s flagship Naija Unlock Programme.
Head, Media & Corporate Communication, Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA), Adebola Brookslyn Sunday, said in a statement that the collaboration aligns ELRA’s statutory mandate of regulating and promoting equipment leasing with Heifer Nigeria’s mission of ending hunger and poverty through sustainable agricultural development.
According to the statement, the partnership is designed to unlock access to productive assets, stimulate agricultural productivity, strengthen rural enterprises and promote inclusive economic growth by making modern farming equipment more accessible through flexible leasing and lease-to-own arrangements.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of ELRA, Mr. Donald Wokoma, described the agreement as a significant milestone in advancing agricultural financing and promoting equipment leasing as a practical solution to Nigeria’s food security challenges.
He noted that equipment leasing remains one of the most effective financing mechanisms for farmers and agribusinesses because it removes the burden of heavy upfront capital expenditure while providing access to modern equipment that drives productivity, efficiency and business growth.
“This partnership demonstrates how equipment leasing can unlock opportunities for farmers, cooperatives, women and young agripreneurs by providing affordable access to tractors, irrigation systems, processing equipment and other productive assets required to drive agricultural transformation.
It also reinforces ELRA’s commitment to making leasing a catalyst for national development by connecting more Nigerians with the productive assets they need to succeed. We are confident that this collaboration will redefine how farmers and rural enterprises access equipment, ultimately driving productivity, job creation and economic prosperity,” Wokoma said.
Also speaking, the Country Director of Heifer Nigeria, Mr. Lekan Tobe, said the collaboration reflects the organisation’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers through practical, market-driven solutions capable of transforming livelihoods and strengthening Nigeria’s food systems.
“At Heifer Nigeria, we believe that access to productive assets is fundamental to transforming agriculture and lifting farming families out of poverty. Through this partnership with ELRA, we are introducing innovative leasing models that will enable farmers, cooperatives, women and youth to acquire the equipment they need to increase productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and build resilient agribusinesses.
Together, we are creating pathways for smallholder farmers to move from subsistence to sustainable prosperity while contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s food security objectives.”
He added that the partnership, under the Naija Unlock Programme, would strengthen agricultural value chains through increased mechanisation, climate-smart technologies, enterprise development, financial inclusion and expanded opportunities for rural communities.
Under the agreement, ELRA and Heifer Nigeria will jointly develop affordable leasing and lease-to-own models covering tractors, power tillers, planters, weeders, threshers, solar-powered irrigation systems, renewable-energy agricultural equipment, processing machinery, storage facilities and cold-chain infrastructure.
The initiative is expected to reduce production costs, minimise drudgery, improve farm efficiency and enable smallholder farmers to access modern equipment without the financial burden of outright purchase.
Beyond equipment financing, both organisations will implement extensive capacity-building programmes in agribusiness management, financial literacy, equipment operation and maintenance, enterprise development and asset management.
The training will target farmers, cooperatives, leasing companies, rural enterprises, equipment operators, women and youth agripreneurs to ensure sustainable utilisation of leased assets.
The collaboration will also promote climate-smart agriculture by accelerating the adoption of renewable-energy-powered equipment and sustainable farming technologies capable of supporting year-round production while improving resilience to climate change.
Other areas of cooperation include reducing post-harvest losses through improved processing and storage infrastructure, promoting value addition, expanding access to productive assets for cooperatives and rural enterprises, encouraging greater participation of women and young people in agriculture, strengthening agricultural value chains, supporting policy advocacy and research, and promoting the growth of Nigeria’s equipment leasing ecosystem.
The project is expected to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s food security agenda by increasing agricultural productivity, improving farmers’ incomes, reducing post-harvest losses and creating sustainable livelihoods for rural households in the participating states.
Beyond the immediate project locations, the partnership is expected to serve as a national model for demonstrating how equipment leasing can bridge the financing gap that has long limited access to modern agricultural machinery. By combining regulatory oversight with development expertise, ELRA and Heifer Nigeria aim to attract greater private sector investment in agricultural equipment financing while expanding opportunities for farmers to acquire productive assets through affordable leasing arrangements.
The ELRA–Heifer Nigeria partnership underscores the growing recognition of equipment leasing as a strategic tool for agricultural transformation, economic diversification and sustainable national development. By integrating innovative financing into agricultural development programmes, both organisations are helping remove longstanding barriers to mechanisation while creating pathways for increased productivity, employment, food security and inclusive economic growth.
As implementation begins, ELRA and Heifer Nigeria expressed confidence that the partnership will accelerate agricultural mechanisation, strengthen rural enterprises, empower women and youth, and build resilient farming communities, while supporting the Federal Government’s food security and economic development agenda
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