Lagos State has renewed its commitment to building a youth-driven, technology-powered agricultural future as the second edition of the Lagos Agrinnovation Summit held on Thursday with a call on residents to partner the government in strengthening the State’s food systems.
The event, which took place at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, brought together young agripreneurs, private sector players, researchers, culinary professionals and stakeholders across the food value chain.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, in her welcome address, urged participants to imagine a Lagos “where no child goes to bed hungry, where food is fresh, affordable, and grown close to home,” adding that such a future was possible through collective innovation, youth engagement and deliberate investment in food systems.
Olusanya, who spoke earlier on the theme Thriving Food Systems for a Smarter Future, praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for championing agricultural transformation through initiatives such as the Produce for Lagos programme, the Agrinnovation Club, and the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme (L.A.P.).
She emphasised that the Ministry is building “a youth-led, resilient and efficient machinery — where young agri-business owners, creators and thinkers come together to form an ecosystem of innovation and enterprise that transforms how Lagos grows, processes, distributes and consumes food.”
According to her, programmes like the Eko Flavours Culinary Initiative, Lagos Food Festival, and the Lagos Agric Scholars Programme are central to the State’s Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap launched in 2021.
Olusanya highlighted Lagos’ vast potential, noting that the State is surrounded by water and boasts over 109 fish landing sites, making fisheries a key area for innovation. Through youth-inclusive platforms such as the Agrinnovation Club, the State aims to deliver a smart, sustainable food system driven by technology and enterprise.
In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, said Lagos would continue to expand opportunities in agriculture and support a smarter, innovation-driven economy.
Also speaking, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, Managing Director of Sterling Bank PlC and keynote speaker, commended the State Government for recognising the strategic importance of food systems. He noted that Lagos consumes more than 50 million meals daily, making it Africa’s largest food consumption hub and a critical centre for agricultural investment.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Sam Egube, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring sustainable food production for Lagos’ growing population in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The summit attracted young farmers, students, traders, logistics providers, development experts and food creatives.