Ikore International Development Limited (Ikore) Graduate Trainee Program 2026 at Ikore International Development Limited

Program Overview and Role

• The 6-month graduate trainee program is designed to attract individuals that are passionate about Agricbusiness in today’s world and are willing to learn and contribute their knowledge to the development of the sector. The Program will provide an intensive learning opportunity for young and aspiring professionals who would like to work with Agric businesses
• As a graduate trainee, you will work with our dynamic and innovative team to solve real-world problems; working collectively with communities and businesses to design and deliver home-grown solutions that improve livelihood and build resilience.
• Ikore is accepting applications from individuals interested in seeking to develop their careers further in any of the following areas:

Partnerships Development
Specific Responsibilities:

• Identify and build partnerships and collaborations to drive growth in the identification, selection, and engagement of various stakeholders;
• Conduct thorough financial and non-financial due diligence, and present/recommend the most relevant investment opportunities to stakeholders;
• Manage proposal processes and pipelines—from capture, technical development, drafting, narrative reviews, to finalization;
• Participate in technical design by identifying and analyzing potential solutions to development challenges through desk research, stakeholder interviews, and ideation with the leadership and technical team;
• Conduct market research to identify new business opportunities and support the expansion of Ikore’s institutional donor pipeline; identify and pre-qualify new bid opportunities through online and offline searches;
• Track and assess new project opportunities and proactively contribute to marketing efforts to build a pipeline of high-quality business opportunities;
• Collaborate with colleagues to determine the most viable and cost-effective approaches for pursuing new business opportunities;
• Meet with potential investors, funders, and partners to present company offerings and negotiate business deals.

 Project Implementation Support:
 Specific Responsibilities:

• Support the implementation and management of changes and interventions to ensure project goals are achieved;
• Facilitate meetings with stakeholders to ensure clear and transparent communication on project issues and service delivery decisions;
• Produce accurate and timely reports on project status throughout the project life cycle;
• Analyze, evaluate, and mitigate project risks, manage resources, and produce reports for management and stakeholders;
• Coordinate multiple projects and their interdependencies;
• Liaise with international and local partners on all projects and interventions;
• Support the identification of rural market opportunities, design strategies/intervention guides for developing these market areas/commodity chains, and lead implementation.

Startup and Technology Management:
Specific Responsibilities:

• Evaluate how new business models can be effectively applied to create value, including determining how Ikore can best leverage corporate partners’ assets to gain competitive advantage, assessing market size, and building business cases;
• Gather information from the ecosystem to assess market opportunities and the feasibility of innovation concepts;
• Develop compelling product strategies, competitive analyses, roadmaps, and Product Requirements Documents (PRDs) to communicate product vision.

What Will You Gain?
You will embark on an exciting and flexible 24-week journey, during which you will benefit from:

• Mentorship from experts in the field;
• Exposure to a wide range of business and soft skills;
• A monthly stipend ranging from NGN 200,000 to NGN 300,000;
• Retention opportunities for successful trainees.
• In addition to equipping young graduates with skills that can be applied in future career pursuits, this program also supports their professional development and provides them with competencies that will significantly strengthen their portfolios..

Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must:

• Hold a First Class or Second Class Upper degree in Engineering, Sciences, Project Management, Finance/Investment, Business Management, Economics, or a related field;
• Reside in Abuja, FCT;
• Be between 22 and 30 years old;
• Demonstrate commitment to values that support improving the lives of smallholder farmers;
• Possess exceptional research, writing, and presentation skills; strong interpersonal skills and empathy; attention to detail; creativity and the ability to think outside the box; and an interest in AgTech businesses.
• Have experience managing a small business or working in a startup environment, or have relevant experience in investment banking, private equity, venture capital, or angel investing.
• Be a self-starter with project management and leadership experience;
• Have the ability to develop relationships and build connections with diverse individuals and stakeholders;
• Have experience owning a workstream within a project, including structuring analysis, developing recommendations, and presenting results;
• Have program or project management experience, with a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and ensure effective and efficient operations;
• Be a strong team player with leadership capabilities—someone who takes ownership of team outcomes and supports others in improving their performance.