The Lagos State Government has launched a N150 million grant to support innovation and entrepreneurship in the agrifood sector, aiming to boost the state’s agricultural production.
Abisola Olusanya, the state’s commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, who disclosed this at a press briefing on Monday in Lagos, said the grant will be awarded to at least 25 promising agrifood startups and teams across key value chains in the state’s food system.
“Building on the success of last year, where we supported 26 youth-led agribusinesses with N100 million, the 2025 edition expands the programme to include virtual and physical pitch sessions and mentorship,” she said.
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The commissioner also officially launched the Lagos Agrithon 2025, describing it as an agricultural hackathon that provides a unique platform for startups to pitch their groundbreaking solutions to get access to funding and potential investors.
Other benefits include mentorship and enhanced visibility across the agricultural value chain in Nigeria, noting that Agrithon 2.0 aims at enhancing productivity, sustainability, and overall efficiency in agriculture.
She called on agripreneurs between 18 – 40 years who are adding value to the state’s food sustainability journey to apply for the programme.
“Lagos must act boldly – leveraging policy, partnerships, and innovation, to secure the future of food for its people,” she said.
“This is why Lagos Agrithon was born. It is more than a contest. It is a movement,” she explained.
According to her, it is a platform for bold ideas, for youth-led innovation, and scalable solutions that tackle the food challenges of today and anticipate those of tomorrow.
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“Starting today, Monday, 2nd June, we open applications for LAGO,” she noted.
Youths within the age bracket who are operating in the agriculture or food systems space, are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and enrolled with LASSRA, are advised to apply.
“Interested participants must complete the online registration form and submit a pitch deck that clearly explains the problem they are solving, their solution, and the impact they hope to achieve. Full details are available on the Lagos Agrinnovation and Ministry websites.”
Olusanya noted that the Lagos Agrithon 2025 is not just a programme, but a strategic response to a real and growing challenge.
She emphasised that it is an investment in the minds and hands that will feed the future of Lagos and Nigeria.
