By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
The second edition of the Lagos Agrinnovation Summit has taken place in Victoria Island, with a renewed call for residents to collaborate with the state government to build a smarter, more resilient food system capable of meeting the demands of Africa’s fastest-growing megacity.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, speaking on the theme “Thriving Food Systems for a Smarter Future,” praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for spearheading agricultural transformation through key initiatives, including Produce for Lagos.
She noted that the ministry is prioritising the development of a youth-led, technology-driven agricultural ecosystem where young agripreneurs and innovators reshape how Lagos grows, processes, and distributes food.
Ms. Olusanya highlighted Lagos’ expansive potential, citing the state’s 109 fish landing sites and its efforts to harness the Lagos Agrinnovation Club to increase youth participation and broaden access to smart, sustainable food systems.
In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding opportunities along the agricultural value chain and building a smarter city where innovation powers economic growth.
Delivering the keynote address, the Managing Director of a new-generation bank, Abubakar Suleiman, applauded the state for embedding food systems into its long-term agricultural agenda.
He emphasised that Lagos consumes more than 50 million meals daily, making it Africa’s largest food consumption hub, and underscored the urgency of embracing innovation to sustain this demand.
Representing Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Egube, reaffirmed that Lagos remains firmly positioned at the forefront of food production, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to enhance food security and support the nation’s growing population.
N150,000,000.00 (one hundred & fifty million naira) grant cheque was given to 33 innovative agripreneurs each under the Lagos Agrithon competition.
The summit attracted a diverse audience, including young farmers, students, private-sector leaders, culinary experts, traders, and logistics operators, all united by a shared commitment to strengthening Lagos’ agricultural value chain and advancing a future-ready food system.
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