Lagos driving agricultural innovation to strengthen Nigeria’s food supply – Sanwo-Olu
By Sodiq Adelakun
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed the state’s commitment to driving innovation within Nigeria’s agriculture sector, despite its limited landmass. He said Lagos continues to develop creative strategies and partnerships to boost food production and strengthen national food security.
Speaking on Thursday at the Lagos Agrinnovation Summit 2.0 in Victoria Island, with the theme “Thriving Systems for a Smarter Future,” Sanwo-Olu said the agricultural value chain extends far beyond planting and harvesting crops. He noted that Lagos is positioning itself as a key driver of modern agribusiness through technology, youth engagement, and private-sector collaboration.
The governor, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Egube, highlighted the establishment of the Agrinnovation Club by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems as a strategic initiative to connect young agripreneurs with the state’s broader agricultural transformation agenda.
“If the market determines value and drives how value is allocated along the value chain, then you are in the right place,” he said. “Innovation is at the heart of both federal and state strategies. We are here to execute and focus on this shared dream of pushing Nigeria forward.”
Sanwo-Olu added that Lagos, as the largest market in West Africa, must continue to leverage its economic scale to stimulate agricultural production and enhance food systems and logistics across the country.
“In all the presentations today, we have seen that it is not just about planting and harvesting seeds; it’s about how those seeds get from the market to the plates,” he said.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said her vision is for a Lagos where no child goes to bed hungry and where food is fresh, affordable, and produced close to home. She emphasized the role of young people in reshaping agriculture into a dynamic, innovative, and profitable sector.
“My vision has always been to build a youth-led, resilient, and efficient food system—one where young agri-business owners, creators, and thinkers work together to transform how Lagos grows, processes, distributes, and consumes food,” she said.
Olusanya stressed that feeding a city of more than 24 million people requires a collaborative system built on innovation, opportunity, and shared growth.
“Feeding a megacity is not the work of one person or one institution—it is the work of a living, breathing network where collaboration replaces competition and small beginnings grow into lasting impact,” she added.