The Lagos State Government has expressed confidence that the state will, in the near future, produce a new generation of billionaires from the agricultural value chains while also meeting the food demands of its growing population.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, made this known while addressing journalists at the grand finale of the 2025 Lagos Agrithon held at Workforce, The Zone, in the Gbagada area of the state.
She described the initiative as one of the enduring legacies of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, assuring that in the coming years, Lagos will produce young billionaires and enterprise leaders who will transform the agricultural industry and drive innovation across the value chains.
Olusanya explained that the Agrinnovation Club, formed in 2023, was established to reach young agricpreneurs who have little or no direct connection with the government or its intervention programmes.
According to her, the club provides a platform for members to showcase their achievements in the agriculture and food space while receiving the necessary support to scale their businesses.
She added that the club has successfully created an ecosystem of like-minded individuals where collaboration, partnerships, and synergies are helping members thrive — yielding impressive results.
Olusanya also noted that members of the club are now helping to promote the government’s agricultural drive among younger generations, including students in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, thereby demonstrating that agriculture holds vast potential and economic opportunities.
She revealed that some of the club’s members have become mentors under the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme (LAP) and the Agric Scholars Programme, further proving that collaboration accelerates growth and progress.
Speaking on the 2025 Agrithon, the Commissioner disclosed that over 1,000 business cases were submitted. Participants went through several stages, including pitching, written examinations, oral interviews, and mentorship programmes.
She added that physical farm visits were conducted to verify the claims of shortlisted applicants, describing the quality of the submissions as highly impressive, especially from those providing innovative solutions to key challenges in the food industry.
A total of 36 finalists drawn from different parts of the country will receive funding support from the ₦150 million set aside by the Lagos State Government for the programme, as well as additional assistance from private sector partners. The fund was increased from ₦100 million last year.
Olusanya concluded that the Agrithon is open to related businesses outside Lagos, provided that at least 60% of their customer base is within the state, thereby ensuring that they contribute meaningfully to its economic growth.
