Lagos AGRITHON to Empower Startups with N100 Million

The Lagos AGRITHON, an initiative of the Lagos State Government, aims to unlock innovation in agriculture and value chains by empowering creative, solution-centric innovators in Nigeria’s agricultural sector and is poised to grant innovators up to 100 million Naira.

Techeconomy can authoritatively report that the empowerment programme curated by Eko Innovation Centre, focused on driving change in Nigeria’s food systems and agricultural sectors through successful and disruptive innovators, entered its grand finale stage on Thursday, 24 October 2024.

Food insecurity in Lagos State and Nigeria has raised significant concern and has been influenced by various challenges.

The Lagos State government is proactively creating solutions through innovation and technology, implementing initiatives to enhance food production and distribution, such as the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme, which aims to empower over 10,000 young farmers by providing training and access to resources.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, the Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, noted that the innovation and disruptive thinking experienced in the program give renewed hope that Lagos State and Nigeria at large can address the challenge of food insecurity.

“I am impressed that this Agrithon started with over 300 candidates, which has been pruned down to 26 today. It has been ongoing for weeks, and the type of innovation we have seen is truly mind-blowing and special. These ideas and innovations are reliable and span the entire agricultural chain, giving us hope. It is also important to note that the age bracket of all those who showcased their solutions falls within the youth category.”

Dr. Oluwarotimi emphasized that the Lagos State Government, through creative thinking, is changing the narrative from the misconception of “no land to plant in Lagos” to “grow what you eat.” He stated that the Agrithon reflects hope, as 90-95% of the creative solutions and disruptive thinkers pitching their ideas are youth.

Finalists

According to him, “90 or 95% of them are youth, indicating that we have outstanding young people who are hardworking and looking toward the future in the entire agricultural value chain. This gives us hope for what is to come and the possibilities we can achieve. We can look forward to a support base in the agricultural value chain that is thinking outside the box and providing solutions to the pressing problems in the sector.”

“Regarding food insecurity and sustainability in Lagos State, we are moving away from the concept that Lagos does not have land to the idea of growing what you eat. This means that you can cultivate in the space you have; you don’t necessarily need vast land to grow food. Whether through buckets, greenhouses, or hydroponics, we are modernizing cultivation methods for Lagosians, which supports sustainability.”

Dr. Fashola highlighted that the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Mrs. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, launched the “Grow What You Eat” initiative at Marina House, featuring tomatoes, onions, peppers, yams, and more, all grown in buckets. This reflects the future direction of Lagos State, emphasizing that the agricultural future is not reliant on large land but on everyone growing something to reduce the burden of food importation into the state.

This innovation showcases that we have youth thinking creatively; these are individuals looking to enhance the agricultural value chain.

Meanwhile, Victor Afolabi, the chief executive officer of Eko Innovation Center and the curator of Art of Technology Lagos, expressed his enthusiasm for how technology can help address food security and sustainability in Lagos State and Nigeria, especially given the strategic importance of the state.

“It is a privilege to host the Lagos State leadership team, especially the team from the Ministry of Agriculture. What excites me is the potential for game-changing developments in this sector. Under the dynamic leadership of the Lagos State Honourable Commissioner of Agriculture and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, it is encouraging to see how technology can tackle food security and sustainability issues.”

He added that Lagos State accounts for almost 70% of Nigeria’s economic activities despite occupying only 3% of the land mass. It also has a substantial percentage of the country’s total population.

“It is larger than seven economies in Africa and surpasses some countries in terms of population. Therefore, a sub-region like Lagos State must be deliberate about food security and sustainability across the value chain. For me, it is exciting to partner with Lagos State on this food chain initiative and the projects of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture.”

Lagos AGRITHON –

The journey has been quite interesting and amazing. We narrowed the candidates from 50 to 36 two weeks ago, and today we will see 30 of them. The program intends to distribute grants worth 100 million Naira, which is an exciting development.

This initiative is outstanding as the government is directly investing in people to encourage innovation, and I think that is commendable.

Meanwhile, while delivering her goodwill message, Mrs. Feyisayo Alayande, the executive secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, ably represented by Miss Oyin, emphasized that the ministry’s mandate is to create jobs for the development of Lagos State. “Apart from job creation, we are also focused on defining social impact and sustainability.”

“It’s a pleasure to be here representing the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Feyisayo Alayande, who is unavoidably absent. It has been a busy and eventful schedule for us as a ministry, as we have started planning for next year and how we will make history.”

“Mrs. Feyisayo and I joined the ministry this year, and one of the first projects we embarked on was the Ikorodu project, which enjoyed significant expertise. Before joining the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, I perhaps took the agriculture sector for granted, assuming that food supply would always be available. However, my engagement with LSETF in May made me realize the passion behind food security efforts.

“It became clear to us that the project we embarked on would make a significant difference, and we are striving to ensure that our efforts are consistent, growing, scaling, and supporting more businesses in this sector.

“For those who may not be familiar with us, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund has a mandate to create jobs for the development of Lagos State. Beyond job creation, we are focused on defining social impact and sustainability—how we help people sustain themselves while exploring business innovations and participating in this summit. We have been engaging with Funmi and her team, and I must commend them for their fantastic, consistent efforts and passion, meeting weekly to ensure progress.

“We are here to support businesses, and even if certain businesses may not receive grants, we are providing access to finance through loan programs at single-digit interest rates, which is something you would not find at any commercial bank these days. We also support initiatives that bolster the economy”.