Lagos State Government Logo. Photo: State Government
The Lagos State Government has inaugurated the third edition of its Agrithon programme, unveiling a N200m funding package aimed at supporting youth-led innovations and agribusinesses across the food systems value chain.
The initiative, tagged Lagos Agrithon 3.0, is designed to provide young agripreneurs with funding, mentorship, technical support, networking opportunities and market access to help transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.
Speaking at the launch, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said the programme was created to address challenges confronting young innovators, particularly limited access to finance, markets, technical expertise and strategic partnerships.
She noted that while Lagos remains Nigeria’s innovation hub and one of Africa’s largest food markets, deliberate efforts were required to strengthen the state’s agricultural innovation ecosystem and drive food systems transformation.
According to Olusanya, the initiative aligned with the food security agenda of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as agriculture is being repositioned as a comprehensive food systems sector capable of generating jobs, attracting investment and stimulating economic growth.
She highlighted key reforms undertaken by the state government, including the transition from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, the development of the Lagos Food Systems Roadmap, and the implementation of initiatives such as Produce for Lagos and the Agrinnovation Club.
The commissioner said previous editions of the Agrithon programme had produced entrepreneurs who successfully expanded their businesses, attracted investments and created employment opportunities beyond initial expectations.
She described the 2026 edition as the most ambitious so far, with a N200m grant pool and a rigorous selection process involving screening, business pitching, due diligence and evaluation by industry experts.
Olusanya called on innovators working across agricultural production, processing, logistics, cold chain management, mechanisation, climate resilience, biotechnology and digital agriculture to apply for the programme.
She also appealed to private sector organisations, investors and development partners to support efforts aimed at strengthening the agricultural innovation ecosystem in Lagos.
Also speaking at the event, resource person Kamil Olufowobi urged young entrepreneurs to move beyond planning and focus on execution.
He stressed that success in business depends on discipline, resilience, consistency and the ability to build strong networks, adding that setbacks should be viewed as opportunities for learning and growth.
The Lagos Agrithon initiative forms part of the state government’s broader strategy to encourage youth participation in agriculture, promote innovation and strengthen food security through technology-driven solutions and sustainable agribusiness development.
