Lagos State has renewed its commitment to a youth-driven, technology-powered agricultural future, urging residents and private partners to join forces in strengthening the state’s food systems. 

The second annual Lagos Agrinnovation Summit, held on Thursday at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, highlighted key government initiatives in transforming Lagos, Africa’s largest food consumption hub, into a smart, resilient, and food-secure centre. 

The event successfully brought together young agripreneurs, private sector players, researchers, culinary professionals, and stakeholders from across the food value chain.

In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, stressed the ultimate goal: “Imagine a Lagos where no child goes to bed hungry, where food is fresh, affordable, and grown close to home.” 

She asserted that this future is attainable through collective innovation, active youth engagement, and deliberate investment.

Olusanya, speaking on the theme Thriving Food Systems for a Smarter Future, praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for championing agricultural transformation through flagship initiatives such as the Produce for Lagos programme, the Agrinnovation Club, and the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme (L.A.P.).

She emphasised that the Ministry is strategically building “a youth-led, resilient and efficient machinery, where young agri-business owners, creators, and thinkers come together to form an ecosystem of innovation and enterprise that transforms how Lagos grows, processes, distributes and consumes food.” 

Programmes like the Eko Flavours Culinary Initiative, Lagos Food Festival, and the Lagos Agric Scholars Programme are central to the State’s Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap, which was launched in 2021.

The summit established a unique angle by focusing on the massive economic scale of the state’s food market. Mr Abubakar Suleiman, Managing Director of Sterling Bank PlC and the keynote speaker, commended the State Government for recognising the strategic importance of this sector. 

He noted that Lagos consumes more than 50 million meals daily, solidifying its position as Africa’s largest food consumption hub and a critical centre for agricultural investment.

The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, reinforced this, stating that Lagos continues to expand opportunities in agriculture and actively supports a smarter, innovation-driven economy, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for residents.

Olusanya highlighted Lagos’ vast potential, particularly within the fisheries sector, given that the State is surrounded by water and boasts over 109 fish landing sites. This area is earmarked as a key focus for innovation and enterprise.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Sam Egube, reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to ensuring sustainable food production for Lagos’ rapidly growing population, aligning the state’s efforts with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. 

Source: Radio Nigeria Lagos