Out of more than 400 public and private secondary schools that registered for the 2026 Lagos Agricultural Scholars Programme (LASP), only 25 qualified for the highly competitive Vegetable Production Competition, with 12 schools emerging winners and receiving modern net houses from the Lagos State Government.
The award ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, celebrated the outstanding schools for their excellence in practical agriculture, innovation and sustainable farming. The initiative is part of the Lagos State Government’s drive to promote agricultural education, strengthen food security and nurture the next generation of agripreneurs.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Mr. Emmanuel Audu, described the programme as a strategic intervention designed to ignite the interest of secondary school students in modern agriculture through technology driven learning and practical experience.
He explained that the vegetable production competition challenged participating schools to translate classroom knowledge into practical farming, encouraging discipline, teamwork, innovation and sound farm management practices.
Audu disclosed that following a call for expressions of interest published by the Ministry, over 400 public and private secondary schools from the six educational districts of Lagos State applied to participate in the programme. After a rigorous screening process, only 25 schools met the eligibility requirements to compete.
According to him, the schools were evaluated using transparent criteria, including land preparation, crop establishment, agronomic practices, innovation, pest and disease management, record keeping, environmental sanitation, productivity, teamwork and sustainability.
He urged the beneficiary schools to maximise the facilities by transforming them into centres for learning, research and innovation, while also serving as demonstration hubs where other schools can learn best practices in protected vegetable production.
Delivering the keynote address, the Special Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, said the programme reflects the Lagos State Government’s vision of repositioning agriculture as a technology driven and profitable sector for young people.
According to him, participating schools received training, agricultural tools and production inputs before the competition, enabling students to develop practical skills in leafy vegetable cultivation while exposing them to climate smart agricultural practices, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Fashola said the net houses would enable the beneficiary schools to practise protected cultivation, improve crop yields, reduce pest and disease incidence, conserve water and produce high quality vegetables throughout the year.
He added that the facilities would also function as practical learning laboratories where students could acquire modern agricultural skills while positioning their schools as centres of excellence in climate smart vegetable production.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the Lagos State Government’s THEMES Plus Development Agenda by promoting education, food security, youth empowerment, economic diversification and environmental sustainability, adding that the government would continue to expand access to improved agricultural technologies and practical learning opportunities.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Bisola Dokunmu Adegbite, expressed delight at the quality of produce showcased by the students, noting that the initiative demonstrates the importance of nurturing talents beyond academics and exposing students to practical skills with economic value.
Speaking on behalf of participating schools, Mr. Shobowale Sule of Ronik Comprehensive School, Ejigbo, said the Lagos Agricultural Scholars Programme had transformed students’ perception of agriculture.
According to him, enrolment in agricultural classes has increased significantly, while parents and teachers now enjoy vegetables cultivated by the students. He added that the programme has equipped students with practical farming skills that will prepare them for future careers in agriculture.
At the end of the competition, Home Science Association Secondary School emerged overall winner with a score of 86 per cent, followed by Kith and Kin International College with 85 per cent, while Abule Eko Community Senior Grammar School came third with 82.7 per cent.
Other winning schools were Omole Senior Grammar School, Henna Teck International School, Lagos Anglican Girls, Surulere, Abbot Dayspring College, Ronik Comprehensive School, Glorious James Model College, Badagry, Awori Ajeromi Senior Grammar School, Agboju, Anglican Comprehensive High School, Ipaja, and Great Omega College, Ikorodu, all of which received net houses in recognition of their outstanding performance in the competition.
