The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, has said the Lagos Agricultural Scholars Quiz Competition will help develop a new generation of knowledgeable, innovative and skilled young people capable of transforming the agricultural sector.
Olusanya stated this at the Lagos Agricultural Scholars Quiz Competition organised to commemorate the 2026 World Food Day.
She described the competition as more than a contest, saying it provided an avenue to promote agricultural knowledge, innovation and healthy competition while exposing students to the vast opportunities in the sector.
According to her, the initiative would nurture students who understand food production, food security, environmental sustainability, nutrition and responsible management of natural resources.
“Education is one of the most powerful instruments for transforming agriculture,” she said, noting that the future of the sector would depend not only on fertile land and productive farms but also on quality human capital, scientific knowledge and the ability to develop solutions to emerging challenges.
She said the competition would deepen students’ understanding of crop production, livestock management, fisheries, aquaculture, agricultural technology, food processing, nutrition, climate-smart agriculture and agribusiness.
Olusanya added that the students were also being encouraged to think critically, solve problems, communicate ideas and understand the connection between agriculture and everyday life.
She urged the contestants to see themselves as potential agricultural scientists, food technologists, agronomists, veterinarians, agricultural engineers, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers and innovators.
The commissioner encouraged the students to discard outdated perceptions of agriculture, stressing that modern agriculture increasingly draws on science, technology, data, engineering, business management and entrepreneurship.
She called for sustained collaboration among schools, government, farmers, researchers, private-sector organisations and other stakeholders to make agricultural education more practical and relevant to young people.
Addressing the contestants, Olusanya urged them to prepare diligently, listen carefully, think critically and demonstrate sportsmanship throughout the competition.
She also encouraged students who might not emerge as winners not to be discouraged, saying participation itself offered an opportunity to learn, improve and discover new interests.
“Never underestimate what you can accomplish when knowledge is combined with creativity, discipline, and a commitment to service,” she said.
Olusanya commended the organisers, teachers, school administrators, parents, judges and partners for supporting the competition, saying initiatives such as the quiz were important to building the human capacity required for a sustainable food system in Lagos State.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, noted that agriculture dignifies entrepreneurship and has enormous potential for the youth to contribute to food security.
He explained that the forum was also to engage the students in knowledge and capacity building to help nurture a generation that understands the importance of food production for a brighter tomorrow.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Mr. Emmanuel Audu, said the theme for this year’s World Food Day was deliberate to encourage people to take necessary actions towards food security in the state and the nation at large.
According to him, the students are in school to study for a better future, adding that he was once in their shoes and assuring them of a promising future for those who are dedicated to their academics.
He also disclosed that the government has started building nets and greenhouses in schools that emerged winners during the last competition.
