The annual Juvenile Harvest of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Shasha, Lagos, has once again blended faith with food production, inspiring young people to embrace agriculture as a tool for national development.
Held under the theme “Manifestation of God’s Light”, the 2025 edition featured parade of different farm products, colourful thanksgiving, vibrant children’s performances, and renewed calls for youth engagement in productive ventures to tackle Nigeria’s food security challenges.
Preacher Reverend Joseph Omotayo urged parents and leaders to guide children to be “the light of the world” and remain “beacons of hope” wherever they find themselves. Vicar of Shasha Parish, Venerable Isaac Anyalere, delivering the goodwill message of the Bishop of Lagos West, Rt. Revd. Dr. James Olusola Odedeji, stressed that agriculture remains key to addressing hunger and poverty.
Agricultural experts at the event noted that instilling discipline, faith, and a hard work ethic in children could boost household incomes, reduce post-harvest losses, and strengthen local food supply chains.
The high point of this event was the colourful thanksgiving, vibrant children’s performances, and the paramilitary parades of colour party by the church brigade.
With Nigeria facing climate shocks, rising food prices, and disruptions in supply, church leaders believe community-led initiatives like the Juvenile Harvest can help nurture the next generation of food producers while deepening spiritual growth.
This years harvest festival of St. Peter Anglican church, shasha Lagos was hosted by the ‘Ifelodun Society ‘, even as the church leadership expressed hope that future Juvenile Harvests will not only be moments of thanksgiving, eating and drinking, but also opportunities to nurture the next generation of leaders.