In a bold effort to boost food production and empower young entrepreneurs, the Lagos State Government has launched Lagos Agrithon 2025, committing ₦150 million in funding for promising agrifood startups.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, made the announcement during a press briefing at the Ministry’s Conference Room on Monday.
“This year, we are proud to unveil a ₦150 million grant pool, which will support at least 35 standout agrifood startups and teams operating within key areas of our food systems,” Olusanya said.
Lagos Agrithon 2025, an agricultural hackathon, is designed to discover and nurture innovative, youth-led solutions to address the growing food challenges in Lagos — a city that consumes over 70% more food than it produces. With the population projected to surpass 30 million by 2035, the Commissioner emphasized the urgent need for scalable and sustainable food systems.
“The future of food in Lagos is not just an agricultural issue,” Olusanya noted. “It’s an economic, environmental, and social imperative.”
Despite limited arable land and rapid urbanization, she stressed that Lagos holds significant, largely untapped opportunities in agriculture. These include vertical and urban farming methods like hydroponics and aquaponics, aquaculture via the state’s waterways, agro-processing, improved logistics, and the modernization of food markets.
Public-private partnerships (PPPs), she added, are crucial to funding large-scale initiatives such as mechanized farming and processing hubs. Agrithon 2025 is therefore not just a competition, but a strategic platform for collaboration and sustainable growth.
Olusanya outlined key focus areas for innovation, including:
- Climate-smart and sustainable agriculture
- Precision farming and agri-fintech
- Post-harvest storage and logistics
- Digital innovation and food traceability
- Market access and affordability solutions
“Lagos Agrithon is a frontline initiative in our fight for a food-secure and innovation-driven future,” she stated.
Applications will be judged based on criteria such as originality, feasibility, sustainability, market impact, and team strength. The programme is open to young entrepreneurs aged 18–40 with startups between 0–5 years old operating in the agricultural or food systems sector. Applicants must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASSRA).
Participants will undergo virtual and in-person pitch sessions, benefit from a mentorship hub, and compete in a grand finale at the Lagos Agrinnovation Summit 2.0, which brings together investors, policymakers, and industry leaders.
“This is more than a programme—it’s a movement,” Olusanya declared. “It’s a platform for bold, youth-led innovation and scalable solutions that tackle today’s food challenges and prepare us for tomorrow’s.”
She called on innovators, investors, development partners, educators, and the media to support the initiative and help shape a resilient and inclusive food system in Lagos.
