The Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS) has been awarded as the Best Smallholder Farmer Support & Agricultural Innovation Foundation 2026 – Nigeria at the prestigious MEA Markets African Excellence Awards 2026.

The award celebrates organisations making outstanding contributions within their sectors and recognises FSSS’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers through innovative, sustainable, and inclusive agricultural solutions.

Speaking on the award recognition, Isaiah Gabriel, Executive Director of FSSS, expressed appreciation to the Foundation’s partners, donors, staff, and the farming communities that continue to drive its work.

“We are honoured to receive this award from MEA Markets. It reflects the dedication of our team, the support of our partners and donors, and the resilience of the smalholder farmers we serve. It also reinforces our commitment to creating sustainable solutions that will help smallholder farmers thrive and contribute to food security and economic growth in Nigeria.”

Over the years, the Foundation has worked to improve the productivity, profitability, and resilience of over 140,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria. Through its network of 61 Farmers’ Hubs across 13 states, seed systems initiatives, market access programmes, climate-smart agriculture interventions, and youth-focused agribusiness projects, the Foundation continues to create opportunities for farmers to grow sustainable livelihoods.

The award comes at a time when FSSS is expanding its efforts to strengthen food systems, promote agricultural innovation, and support the next generation of agripreneurs through the Global Agri-Entrepreneurship Academy (GAEA) – a new institution dedicated to professional education, enterprise development, research, innovation, and technical advisory services for the agricultural sector. By working closely with governments, development partners, research institutions, and private sector actors, the Foundation is helping to build a more inclusive and resilient agricultural sector.

Now in its ninth year, the MEA Markets African Excellence Awards recognise organisations that demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact across Africa. For FSSS, this award is not only a celebration of past achievements but also an encouragement to continue delivering solutions that improve the lives of smallholder farmers and contribute to sustainable agricultural transformation across Nigeria.

FSSS dedicates this recognition to the thousands of farmers, partners, and stakeholders whose trust and collaboration continue to make its work possible.