PRESS RELEASE: The Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) and the Association of Business Consultants of Botswana (ABCB) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the BUAN Administration Boardroom, marking a historic milestone in Botswana’s commitment to youth empowerment, agricultural innovation, and food security.
The partnership establishes a strategic framework for collaboration between academia and industry, aimed at providing practical training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for BUAN graduates and young agricultural entrepreneurs. It further seeks to promote innovation and professionalism in the agricultural sector while supporting Botswana’s broader economic diversification efforts.
The ceremony, held on 29 October 2025, was attended by senior officials from both institutions. It featured remarks from BUAN’s Acting Deputy Vice Chancellors, Professor S. Ngwako of Academic Affairs and Research, and Professor M. Kgosimore of Finance and Administration. Both leaders underscored the importance of aligning academic excellence with national development priorities and commended the partnership as a model of forward-thinking collaboration.
In his keynote address, ABCB President, Mr. Thabo Leon Jeremiah, emphasized that the signing represents a new era for Botswana’s agricultural sector. He expressed his confidence that the partnership will create opportunities for graduates, improve agricultural consultancy services, and drive sustainable food production.
At the heart of the MoU lies the newly established Agricultural Consultancy Development Programme (ACDP), a strategic youth development initiative co-founded by ABCB and BUAN. The programme aims to train and regulate a new generation of youth agricultural consultants, equipping them with technical, entrepreneurial, and professional skills needed to serve Botswana’s agricultural industry effectively. It is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application, enabling BUAN graduates to provide high-quality consultancy and advisory services to farmers, agribusinesses, and development institutions across the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Jeremiah explained that the ACDP seeks to bridge the gap between agricultural education and industry needs, promote employment creation and entrepreneurship among graduates, and formalize the practice of agricultural consultancy through professional regulation and continuous capacity building. He further highlighted that the programme would enhance agricultural productivity, foster innovation, and contribute directly to Botswana’s long-term food security goals.
Beyond skills development, the ACDP will promote the professionalization of agricultural consultancy as a recognized and regulated field, creating sustainable opportunities for young professionals and advancing Botswana’s agricultural transformation agenda. Mr. Jeremiah noted that this initiative would lay the foundation for an empowered generation of consultants equipped to provide strategic solutions that improve farm performance and competitiveness in the sector.
Behind this historic partnership lies a story of persistence, vision, and dedicated leadership. Mr. Bokang F. Basejane, Executive Board Member and Public Relations Chairperson at ABCB, has been the driving force behind this collaboration since 2022, shortly after his election to the ABCB Executive Board.
“When I first introduced the motion in 2022, it faced a lot of resistance within the Board,” said Basejane. “But I believed in the power of this collaboration to transform the lives of young people, particularly BUAN graduates who have been struggling with unemployment, lack of funding, and limited recognition in the agricultural sector. I could not turn away from their cries as I shared their tears because I have always been part of the BUAN community.”
After nearly two years of advocacy and consultation, the ABCB Board approved the motion in February 2024, allowing engagement with BUAN to begin. The official signing in October 2025 marked the realization of a vision that began three years earlier, one founded on the belief that young professionals hold the key to revitalizing Botswana’s agricultural economy.
Mr. Basejane’s persistence and commitment eventually gained full support from the ABCB leadership, including the President, Mr. Jeremiah, and the Executive Board. “Bokang’s persistence and belief in this partnership reignited our collective responsibility to act,” said Jeremiah. “What we celebrate today is a product of vision, patience, and teamwork, a partnership that will positively impact Botswana’s future.”
Basejane further noted that this partnership is not just an institutional agreement but a national commitment to invest in youth and agriculture as drivers of sustainable growth. “This MoU is a call to invest in agriculture as the cornerstone of our economy and a sustainable solution to youth unemployment. As the diamond industry faces global challenges, we must channel our energy and investment into agriculture, a sector that holds the true promise of resilience and long-term prosperity for Botswana,” he stated.
The MoU between BUAN and ABCB represents a transformative step in linking academic excellence with professional practice. It is expected to strengthen Botswana’s agricultural consultancy ecosystem, enhance graduate employability, and promote knowledge exchange between academia, industry, and government.
“This journey has taught me that persistence pays off,” Basejane concluded. “What began as a bold idea in 2022 has now become a lasting legacy not just for me, but for every young person who dares to believe that change is possible.”
As the partnership begins its implementation phase, both BUAN and ABCB reaffirmed their shared vision of developing a generation of competent, ethical, and innovative agricultural consultants. The MoU stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, youth leadership, and vision, a true demonstration that when institutions unite for a common cause, national transformation becomes achievable.
In closing remarks, Mr. Jeremiah aptly captured the spirit of the day: “Together, we are sowing the seeds of transformation in agriculture, one consultant at a time.”
