The Lagos State Government is advancing strategic partnerships to deepen youth engagement in agriculture, positioning agripreneurs at the heart of Nigeria’s food security drive. Through the Lagos Agrinnovation Club, the government aims to foster a collaborative ecosystem that connects agribusinesses, government, development agencies, and civil society to expand market access and drive innovation across the agricultural value chain.
According to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, the initiative is designed to expose young agripreneurs to ideas and technologies they might not access independently. Since its creation in 2013, the club has witnessed rising membership and growing cooperation among businesses, which are now venturing into new segments of the food sector.
She emphasized that these partnerships are not just enhancing business growth but also driving food sovereignty and sustainability. As more young people become employed through agriculture, she said, the long-term vision of national food security becomes increasingly attainable.
Highlighting the need for collaboration across states and sectors, the Commissioner proposed a vision where similar agri-innovation clusters exist in Oyo, Zamfara, and Nasarawa States. Such a nationwide network, she noted, would gradually drive systemic change in Nigeria’s agricultural development. She stressed that transformation happens incrementally, and the combined impact of smaller efforts across regions could lead to significant national progress.
Last year, Lagos hosted the Lagos Agri-Thon, aligned with the Agrinnovation Club’s goals, where 26 agribusinesses received over N100 million in grants. The state is now in partnership discussions with multilateral and bilateral agencies to widen its resource base for supporting more agripreneurs.
Supporting these efforts, the Danish Consul General reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to agribusiness growth in Lagos and across Nigeria. She pointed to Nigeria’s youthful population as a major asset and urged the country to leverage its demographic advantage for innovation-driven solutions.
She highlighted Denmark’s success in agriculture through innovation and mechanization, describing Danish farms as highly efficient and professionally managed. She added that Denmark has made farming an attractive and respected career path for its youth, a model Nigeria could adapt to revitalize its agricultural sector and improve youth participation.
The Lagos Agrinnovation Club, supported by local and international partners, continues to build a robust framework for agribusiness collaboration, aiming to create a new generation of youth-led agricultural enterprises that can transform Nigeria’s food systems from the ground up.
