The Lagos State Government has hosted the 5th edition of the annual Food Festival to foster growth across the various food spaces and the entire agro value chain.
The event hosted by the State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, held at the Muri Okunola Park , Victoria Island Lagos on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event had in attendance food vendors and caterers across the Lagos agric space.
In his address, the Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended the ministry’s effort to ensure all within the agriculture space thrive.
“You have all been part of the Lagos food festival for this year which is some of the highlights of all of the events that have happened in the ministry of agriculture and food systems.
“They have done a lot of activations and intervention in the agric space in the food security space, they have empowered a lot of entrepreneurs they have actually done so much this year.
“They have continued to put innovators and aggregators in the food business to give them an opportunities to fend and to do well as entrepreneurs.
“But what you also have here is for families to now come out, enjoy and see the exhibition of various food culture and culinary of food,” The Governor said.
Sanwo-Olu also said, “Through the festival we are encouraging people in the catering and food space. As well as for us to be able to also use food to tell the Lagos story.
“Through the festival we are encouraging people in the catering and food space. As well as for us to be able to also use food to tell the Lagos story.
“Food is one in which you can show your arts, you can show your skill and we’re doing it on a budget and opening opportunity for a lot of young talents.
“We’re opening up the smart people, and businesses are being transformed,” he said.
On her part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, reiterated that the essence of the food festival was to create opportunities for all stakeholders across the food space.
“The Lagos Food Festival, Taste Without Borders 2025 is the fifth year since we have been running the Lagos Food Festival which morphed from the Lagos Seafood Festival and it is a celebration of everything Lagos.
“From the culinary culture, the tradition, the entertainment and everything that makes Lagos.
“Lagos is very diverse, it is very multicultural and so we believe that in celebrating everything that is Lagos, food is the embodiment of that.
“And we as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, we are the curators and the custodians of that.
“So, it is best that we celebrate all of our value food chain actors and the Lagos Food Festival is the place to do so.
“It also helps to give exposure to our food actors so you have a lot of chefs here, you have culinary practitioners, you have restaurateurs, hoteliers and caterers.
“This is a place where they are also able to mingle, network, solidify and hold on their businesses, expand and grow,” Olusanya said.
The commissioner also noted that, “We have had many stars made from the Lagos Food Festival, with the governor cooking, tasting their foods and giving a word of encouragement.
“So this is an avenue for us as the ministry of agriculture and food systems to solidify all of our interventions over the years and to celebrate everyone that makes it possible for all of us to eat in Lagos,” she said.
