Lagos Honours BATN Foundation’s Two Decades of Farmers Support

News in Brief:

-Lagos honoured the BATN Foundation for 20 years of supporting food security and rural development.

-Over 300,000 farmers have benefited from the foundation’s projects across Nigeria.

The Lagos State Government has honoured the BATN Foundation for its 20 years of sustained investment in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, food security, and rural development. The recognition took place during the grand finale of the 2025 Eko World Food Day celebration, organised in line with the United Nations’ annual World Food Day.

Since its inception in 1979, World Food Day, coordinated globally by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has served as a platform to drive awareness and collective action on hunger, nutrition, and sustainable food systems. This year’s theme, Hand in Hand, For Better Food and Better Future, highlighted the importance of collaboration across government, private sector, and development partners to build resilience and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

Driving Food Security with Public-Private Partnerships

In partnership with BATN Foundation, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and other key stakeholders, the Lagos State Government used the celebration to emphasise the power of collective responsibility in achieving food security. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, commended BATN Foundation for its commitment to empowering farmers. He added that the company has been advancing innovation and deepening resilience across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

A major highlight of the event was the commissioning and distribution of 60 modern smoking kilns and 40 foldable fish ponds under the Fingerlings to Fork project, an initiative by the BATN Foundation and the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority. The facilities were distributed to pre-vetted smallholder farmers who had undergone agribusiness and technical training, equipping them to scale production and increase income.

Empowering Farmers Across Nigeria

Speaking at the event, BATN Foundation Board Director, Mr Yarub Al-Bahrani, revealed that the foundation has directly impacted over 300,000 farmers and reached more than 1.7 million beneficiaries, including women and youth, across all 36 states and the FCT. “Food security is not something any one sector can deliver alone; it requires all of us working hand in hand for a better future,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed Lagos’s dedication to agricultural sustainability, noting that feeding over 20 million people requires bold thinking, innovation, and strong partnerships. He stressed that the state will continue to build alliances that enhance local production and empower farmers despite its limited landmass.

BATN Foundation Board Director, Mrs Odiri Erewa-Meggison, added that the foundation’s work aligns perfectly with this year’s global theme, stating that “it’s about equipping farmers with the tools, knowledge, and networks to build climate-resilient and commercially viable agricultural enterprises.”

Showcasing Nigeria’s Food Future

The Eko World Food Day celebration also featured a bustling farmers’ marketplace, where smallholder farmers supported by the state government and BATN Foundation sold fresh produce directly to consumers, bridging farm-to-market gaps and stimulating rural economies.

Since its establishment in 2002, BATN Foundation has executed over 350 community development projects focused on sustainable agriculture, rural enterprise, and youth inclusion, showing how private-sector innovation can support national and global goals for food security.

As the world marks World Food Day 2025, Lagos’s partnership with BATN Foundation reinforces the message that collaboration, not isolation, is the path to a stronger, food-secure Nigeria.