The Lagos State Government has unveiled a N100 million grant initiative aimed at supporting agriculture-focused startups, allowing 26 selected businesses to compete for funding to drive growth in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector. This funding is part of the “Lagos Agrithon” program, which promotes innovation across the agriculture and food value chains to enhance Nigeria’s food systems.
In a recent statement, the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture announced that 20 of the 26 pitching startups would be awarded tailored grants. The initiative, launched in partnership with the Lagos State Employment and Trust Fund and Eko Innovation Centre, will become an annual program, reinforcing Lagos State’s commitment to agricultural innovation.
Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, Olurotimi Fashola, highlighted that the program drew over 100 applicants, with finalists selected for ideas such as coconut drying, honey production, fish farming, mechanized year-round farming, and food packaging solutions aimed at reducing waste.
Fashola noted, “Nigeria loses about 40 percent of its annual food production—around 100 million tonnes—which could feed 40 million people.” He emphasized Lagos State’s dedication to food security through urban agriculture initiatives, encouraging residents to grow food on available land to reduce dependency on imports.
The founder of Eko Innovation Centre, Victor Afolabi, praised the initiative’s role in developing the next generation of “agripreneurs” who leverage technology to strengthen food safety and security within Lagos’s dense population. “I am highly optimistic about the potential of our youth in a field often seen as ‘unattractive,’” Afolabi said, expressing enthusiasm for the innovative ideas emerging from young entrepreneurs.
This annual program underscores the state’s commitment to food security and urban agriculture, aiming to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and drive MSME success across the agribusiness sector.
