The Lagos State Government has disbursed N150 million to the finalists of the 2025 Agrithon to promote agricultural sustainability and strengthen food systems in the state.
The fund was awarded during the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems’ Agrinnovation Summit 2.0 held on Thursday in Lagos.
The finalists emerged through rigorous screening processes leading up to the grand finale last week.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Sam Egube, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to building sustainable food systems capable of supporting its rapidly growing population.
“The Lagos Agri-Innovation Summit embodies our commitment to innovation, youth empowerment, and food security. Today’s summit reaffirms Lagos State’s position as the agricultural innovation capital of Nigeria, where agriculture is not just a business but central to everything we do,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu recalled that the Lagos State Agricultural Food Systems Roadmap (2021–2025) was launched to transform agriculture from subsistence to sustainability.
“We believe we will control the entire value chain, from producing feed to fingerlings, and then support farmers by acquiring what they produce. The future is bright for our food security systems, and we must all play our part through innovation,” he said.
The governor urged the awardees to use the grants responsibly to advance agro-innovation in the state.
“The Agri-Innovation Club has become one of the proudest achievements of this roadmap. It is not just a gathering of young agripreneurs but a movement of innovators. We have succeeded in attracting the young, and as a symbol of our continued investment in youth-driven agriculture, we are giving out about N150 million.
“To our Agrithon finalists, the future of Lagos agriculture is in your hands. Use these grants not just as rewards but as responsibilities to expand your ideas, empower others, and create lasting value.”
He urged young innovators across Lagos to continue shaping the state’s agricultural future through creativity and enterprise.
Each of the funded projects, he noted, represents a step toward a food ecosystem that guarantees security, creates jobs, and attracts investment.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, described the rise of agro-innovators in Lagos as a fulfillment of her long-held vision.
“My vision has always been to build a youth-led, resilient, and efficient machinery where young agribusiness owners, creators, and thinkers form an ecosystem that transforms how Lagos grows, processes, distributes, and consumes food.
“This vision is at the heart of our theme this year, ‘Thriving Systems for a Smarter Future’. Feeding a city of over 24 million people requires a living, breathing network, not the effort of one institution.”
Olusanya said the Agrinnovation Club was created to connect young agripreneurs with the state’s broader agricultural transformation agenda.
She highlighted examples of young innovators already breaking new ground — from rooftop farming to waste-to-feed technologies and digital platforms linking farmers to buyers in seconds.
“These stories remind us that transformation begins with one idea, one connection, one act of courage. This summit nurtures those beginnings through partnerships, mentorship, access to resources, supportive policies, and the firm belief that every idea matters,” she said.
