…as BATN Foundation backs farmers
By Henry Ojelu
The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to increase food sufficiency from about 20 per cent to 40 per cent of the state’s food demand through a five-year agricultural and food systems roadmap.
Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, disclosed this at the 2026 Eko World Food Day celebration, held at the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.
Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the roadmap would focus on agricultural infrastructure, production and processing, human capital development, innovation and farmer support.
He identified the planned development of a central food security and logistics hub, middle-level agricultural produce hubs and last-mile distribution networks as key interventions to improve food availability and distribution.
The deputy governor commended BATN Foundation and other development partners for supporting the state’s agricultural development agenda, stressing that sustained collaboration was essential to building a resilient, inclusive and sustainable food system.
The event, organised in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, brought together farmers, agripreneurs, financial institutions, corporate organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss practical solutions to food security challenges.
Held under the theme, “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow,” the celebration featured exhibitions, market linkages, knowledge-sharing sessions and stakeholder engagements aimed at expanding economic opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said the state government was strengthening the agricultural value chain through investments in training, mechanisation, processing, livestock development, aquaculture and food distribution infrastructure.
Olusanya said the approach recognised agriculture as an interconnected ecosystem in which farmers, processors, traders, logistics providers, financial institutions and consumers all had critical roles to play in achieving food security.
Speaking on the foundation’s partnership with the state government, Ruth Owojaiye, Board Director, BATN Foundation, said the initiative had improved the livelihoods of more than 4,000 smallholder farmers since 2019, engaged over 10,000 shoppers and generated millions of naira in income for participating farmers.
She said the Eko World Food Day celebration demonstrated how partnerships could expand market access, create economic opportunities for farmers and agripreneurs, and strengthen connections across the agricultural value chain.
Owojaiye disclosed that the foundation had invested more than ₦5 billion in empowerment initiatives and reached over 1.9 million beneficiaries through interventions including agricultural training, farm input support and improved access to water.
She reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and rural development, stressing the need for sustained investment in women, young people, rural communities and smallholder farmers.
According to her, providing farmers with the knowledge, resources, technology and partnerships required to participate effectively in the agricultural economy would be critical to achieving long-term food security.
The 2026 Eko World Food Day celebration highlighted the role of collaboration among government, development partners, farmers and private-sector stakeholders in strengthening food systems and improving livelihoods.
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