The Lagos State Government has created more than 15,000 jobs through the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme (LAP), an initiative that trains young people in modern, climate-smart agricultural practices.
The programme targets youths aged 18 to 30, equipping them with practical agribusiness skills through structured training, internships and mentorships designed to unlock opportunities across the food system.
LAP aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems’ mandate under the state’s THEMES+ Developmental Agenda, which prioritises capacity building, employment generation and sustainable food production.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the four-week training for the 26th LAP cohort at the Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe, the Institute’s Director, Ms Folake Ogunlana-Lawal, described the programme as a cornerstone of Lagos’ strategy to build a resilient agricultural economy.
She stated that the initiative has directly trained over 5,000 participants, with each beneficiary creating jobs for an average of two to three additional people, significantly expanding its employment impact across rural and peri-urban communities.
Ogunlana-Lawal announced that the next batch of trainees will resume on February 22, 2026, reinforcing the state’s long-term commitment to youth-driven agribusiness development.
According to her, the programme’s core objective is to build a sustainable agricultural sector by equipping young people with modern agripreneurial skills, reducing unemployment, promoting climate-smart farming practices and positioning Lagos as a proactive player in addressing food system challenges.
Modelled after Israel’s Arava International Centre for Agriculture Training (AICAT), LAP follows a “learning by doing” approach.
Since its launch in 2020, the programme has delivered one month of intensive on-site training at Araga-Epe, followed by a three-month internship and mentorship phase with established agro-allied companies.
Participants are fully supported by the Lagos State Government during the training phase, with accommodation, meals, learning materials and safety kits provided at no cost.
The programme concludes with an enterprise activation and incubation stage at the Lagos Food Production and Entrepreneurial Centre, Songhai, Badagry.
Ogunlana-Lawal praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his sustained support of LAP and acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, development partners and private sector stakeholders.
She also commended the trainees for embracing agribusiness as a viable career path and urged them to translate their new skills into enterprises that strengthen food production and rural livelihoods.
Beneficiaries of the programme echoed these sentiments. Ayodeji Oyindamola John, a graduate of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, mentioned that LAP has deepened his practical understanding of farming, while Balogun Saheed Ololade noted that the training has prepared him to establish a viable agribusiness in aquaculture and pig production.
Source: Lagos State Government
