Lagos Awards ₦150 Million to Young Innovators at Agrinnovation Summit 2.0

News in brief:

-Lagos State awards ₦150 million to young innovators at Agrinnovation Summit 2.0

-Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated the state’s commitment to expanding investment pipelines through several programmes.

On November 13th, 2025, Lagos State hosted the Agrinnovation Summit 2.0, bringing together young founders, sector leaders, investors, and policymakers to reimagine the future of food in Africa’s largest megacity. The event culminated in a vibrant award ceremony where 33 young agripreneurs received a combined ₦150 million to scale their innovations across the agricultural value chain.

A Celebration of Innovation and Practical Solutions

The award ceremony, held during the summit’s closing session, showcased projects ranging from rooftop vegetable farms to AI-enabled food distribution platforms, climate-smart aquaculture, waste-to-feed technologies, and digital marketplaces linking farmers to urban buyers. Each finalist walked away with a grant cheque, earning public recognition for turning bold ideas into working agribusiness solutions.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Chief of Staff Sam Egube, applauded the youths for stepping up as solution-drivers in a sector often seen as slow or traditional. He emphasised that the state’s’ food security will depend less on land availability and more on innovation, technology, and efficient value chains.

Government Reaffirms Support for Youth-Led Agriculture

Sanwo-Olu reiterated his administration’s commitment to expanding investment pipelines through programmes such as the Produce-for-Lagos Programme, Lagos Agripreneurship Programme, and the Guaranteed Uptake Fund. He stressed that Lagos is not only Nigeria’s economic nerve centre but the country’s strongest opportunity for demonstrating how urban agriculture can thrive despite land limitations.

“Agriculture is no longer about land size; it is about creativity and logistics. Lagos must lead that process,” he said.

The Engine Behind the Movement

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, described the Agrinnovation Club as a strategic bridge connecting young agripreneurs to the state’s agricultural transformation agenda. Created under the 2021 Agricultural & Food Systems Roadmap, the club facilitates mentorship, access to funding, quarterly innovation hangouts, and partnerships with local and international institutions.

In 2024, the initiative rewarded 26 food companies, and it has now increased that number in its second year. The grant was split into categories, with some finalists receiving ₦3 million each while others received ₦5 million in funding.

Olusanya highlighted inspiring examples already emerging from the platform that match farmers to buyers.

“These innovations show that transformation happens through consistent creativity and courage, not grand speeches,” she said.

Youth as Partners, Not Participants

Special Adviser on Agriculture, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, charged awardees to see themselves as partners in building a smart, resilient food ecosystem. He urged them to maintain integrity, consistency, and innovation as they scale their operations.

The summit concluded with a renewed call for collaboration among youth, government, investors, and private-sector players, as Lagos positions itself as the blueprint for urban-agric innovation in Nigeria.