Lagos, Nigeria – Twenty-six forward-thinking startups in Nigeria’s agriculture sector presented their business expansion initiatives at the Lagos Agrithon Finale, competing for a share in a ₦100 million grant provided by the Lagos State Government to foster the growth of MSMEs within the agribusiness landscape.
The Lagos Agrithon, designed to drive innovation across the food systems & agricultural value chain, aims to empower a new generation of startups to strengthen Nigeria’s food systems. Over 300 startups initially applied, 50 were shortlisted to semi-finalist status, and 31 became finalists, with the top 26 startups pitching their unique solutions for this significant opportunity. The grant, which the Ministry of Agriculture & Food Systems will distribute among 20 startups based on assessed needs, marks the beginning of an annual program set to reshape Nigeria’s agritech landscape.
The Agrithon is organized by the Lagos Ministry of Agriculture & Food Systems department in collaboration with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and Eko Innovation Centre, supported by the Lagos State Government.
Olurotimi Fashola, Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, emphasized the program’s goal of sparking meaningful change. He shared his excitement over the variety of innovative solutions displayed, including food preservation methods like drying tomatoes and peppers, coconut processing, honey production, fish farming advancements, off-season farming systems, and improved food packaging to reduce post-harvest losses. “Nigeria currently loses an estimated 40% of its annual food production—around 100 million tons per year—which could feed approximately 40 million people,” noted Fashola.
He further elaborated on the importance of building food sustainability within Lagos, encouraging residents to embrace urban farming. “We’re modernizing Lagos’s approach to agriculture by shifting from large-scale land dependency to ‘grow what you eat’ practices,” Fashola said, explaining the innovative direction the State is taking. “With buckets, bags, and greenhouses, every resident can contribute to our food supply. This shift toward urban and small-scale agriculture is essential for Lagos’s sustainable food future.” Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was commended by Fashola for championing this groundbreaking initiative to bolster food security in Lagos.
Victor Afolabi, Founder of Eko Innovation Centre, emphasized the importance of the Lagos Agrithon in supporting the next generation of agric-preneurs, particularly those using technology to scale and ensure food safety for Lagos’s population of over 20 million. “It’s inspiring to witness young entrepreneurs embracing this often ‘unattractive’ space, demonstrating that agriculture holds great potential for Nigeria’s future,” he stated. Afolabi expressed pride in Eko Innovation Center’s partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture & Food Systems and its mission to address food security through tech-driven agriculture.
Guests and industry stakeholders praised the entrepreneurial spirit of the participating startups, many of whom have ventured into agribusiness from non-agricultural backgrounds. Besides competing for the grant, some startups are actively seeking equity investment to further expand their operations and generate additional job opportunities within the sector.
