LAGOS ANNOUNCES 150 MILLION NAIRA AGRITECH COMPETITION, SEEKS YOUTH PARTICIPATION TO BOOST FOOD SECURITY, INNOVATION

Lagos State government has officially launched Lagos Agrithon 2025, a bold new initiative aimed at accelerating innovation within the agricultural and food systems sector.

The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, announced the commencement of the programme during a press briefing held at the Ministry’s conference room in Alausa, Secretariat on Monday, June 2, 2025.

With a total grant pool of ₦150 million, the Commissioner said the initiative will support at least 35 promising agrifood startups and youth-led ventures across the state. She noted that applications open today(June 2) and will close on June 27, 2025.

“Lagos Agrithon is more than a contest. It is a movement,” Olusanya said. “It is a platform for bold ideas, youth-led innovation and scalable solutions that tackle the food challenges of today and anticipate those of tomorrow.”

According to her, the initiative comes at a time when Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and population hub, is facing increasing pressure on its food systems and though the state consumes more food than any other state in Nigeria, Lagos produces less than 30% of its food needs.

With the population projected to exceed 30 million by 2035, the Commissioner noted that food security in Lagos is no longer just an agricultural issue—it is an economic, environmental, and social imperative.

Olusanya listed key focus areas and opportunities that the Lagos Agrithon 2025 targets transformative solutions to include: Urban and vertical farming (hydroponics, aquaponics, rooftop gardens); Aquaculture and fisheries; Agro-processing and value addition; Post-harvest storage and food logistics and Horticulture and vegetable crop production.

Others are Agritourism and eco-farming; Youth and women-led agribusiness initiatives; Climate-smart and sustainable agriculture; Precision farming, agri-fintech, and digital innovation and Market access and food affordability solutions.

The Commissioner explained further that the programme is open to youth aged 18–40 who are leading startups (0–5 years old) within the agriculture or food systems sector, while applicants must be Lagos-based or have measurable impact in the state, be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and enrolled with LASSRA.

She noted that applications must include an online registration form and a pitch deck outlining the problem being addressed, the proposed solution, and the anticipated impact.

Beyond funding, the Commissioner noted said the Agrithon 2025 offers a robust support system, including: Virtual and physical pitch sessions; a dedicated mentorship hub; a Grand Finale event where winners will be announced, the state’s premier platform for connecting agri-innovators with investors, policymakers, and industry leaders.

This is a strategic response to a real and growing challenge. It is an investment in the minds and hands that will feed our future,” Olusanya emphasized, calling on partners, educators, media and investors to rally behind the initiative.

Blacktalker quoted the Commissioner as saying previous winners of the Agrithon are not eligible for this edition. She also urged Young Agripeneurs to visit the Lagos Agrinnovation and Ministry of Agriculture websites for full details.

Earlier, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Feyisayo Alayanda urged youths in the state to leverage the opportunities being offered by the state government such as the 2025 Agrithon to contribute their quota to the growth of the Lagos Food Systems and other Agricultural subsectors.

Present at the launch of the Competition were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Mr Emmanuel Audu, Directors from the Ministry, Officials oof the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Private Sector Partners, Young Entrepreneurs in the Agric Sector among others.