# Kaduna representative receives NASENI InnovateNaija award for SmartFarm

> Abdulrahaman Bin Umar of Kaduna was recognised at the 2026 NASENI InnovateNaija awards for SmartFarm, a drone-based farm-support concept; the matched startup grant totalled ₦5 million.

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- Section: Technology
- Country: Nigeria
- Published: 2026-10-20T14:20:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-20T14:20:10+00:00
- Source review period: 2026-10
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Kaduna State was among the top 15 states recognised at the 2026 NASENI InnovateNaija Innovation Challenge. Its representative, Abdulrahaman Bin Umar, an English-language undergraduate from Anchau, received recognition for SmartFarm, a drone-based solution intended to support smallholder farmers.

Kaduna matched the prize awarded by NASENI, bringing the startup grant to ₦5 million in total. SmartFarm is designed to provide crop-spraying support, particularly for smallholder farmers in rural communities. The official report claims a spraying capacity of up to 11 hectares per hour; this is a technology claim, not an independently measured field result.

## Data

### InnovateNaija recognition and startup grant

The top-state recognition group and combined grant reported by the ministry.

Methodology: The grant metric records the combined startup grant once; the state match is already included. Figures concern one Kaduna award, not a national innovation-funding total.

| label | value | unit | period | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| States in the top recognition group | 15 | count | 2026-10-07 | observed |
| Total matched startup grant | 5 | million NGN | 2026-10-07 | observed |

Sources: <https://fmino.gov.ng/kaduna-emerges-among-top-15-at-2026-naseni-innovatenaija-awards/> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/kaduna-smartfarm-naseni-innovatenaija-award-2026/data/smartfarm-award-metrics?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/kaduna-smartfarm-naseni-innovatenaija-award-2026/data/smartfarm-award-metrics?lang=en&format=csv)

## Sources

- [Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation](<https://fmino.gov.ng/kaduna-emerges-among-top-15-at-2026-naseni-innovatenaija-awards/>) (Source checked: 2026-10-20; Published: 2026-10-07)

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