On Monday, a total of 87 farmers in Lagos received agricultural grants amounting to ₦11.4 million through the Lagos chapter of the 2025 Agricultural Support Programme under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI-ASP) by the federal government.
Among the beneficiaries, 27 youths and women were awarded ₦200,000 each, in addition to farming inputs aimed at improving their productivity.
The remaining 60 beneficiaries, selected from various senatorial districts across Lagos, each received ₦100,000 under the “Every Home A Garden 2.0” scheme.
The grant recipients are engaged in diverse agricultural ventures, including fish farming, vegetable cultivation, garri processing, poultry, beekeeping, and zobo drink production.
To encourage agricultural interest among young people, 120 students from 24 schools comprising five students each from junior and senior secondary schools across the six education districts will participate in the Young Farmers Club 2.0 project.
Speaking during the cheque presentation ceremony and official launch of the 2025 RHI-ASP held at Lagos House, Ikeja, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, praised Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for backing the programme with ₦60 million.
She highlighted that the initiative includes four key components: the Women Agricultural Support Programme, Youth Agricultural Support Programme, Every Home a Garden, and the Young Farmers Club, all of which are being launched concurrently.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu emphasized that the programme has reignited interest in agriculture among women and young people, promoting it as a viable and sustainable means of livelihood while contributing to national food security. She also noted that the launch took place simultaneously across all 36 states in the country.
According to the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the narrative of Lagos is undergoing a positive transformation. She expressed her vision for a Lagos where hunger is eradicated and women and youth achieve financial independence. “Agriculture is more than our heritage,it represents our future. We must always remember that the journey of the food we consume begins with us,” she stated.
Also speaking at the event, the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, described the Renewed Hope Initiative Agricultural Support Programme as a strategy to boost food production at the household level. She noted that Lagos is currently experiencing “a surge of fresh opportunities” and encouraged beneficiaries to “nurture their crops with intention and care.”
Two speakers, Femi Ojelade, a seasoned farmer with over two decades of experience, and Omolara Oguntuyi, the Lagos State Coordinator from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, both called on young people to actively participate in agriculture, emphasizing that it holds the key to the future. They also stressed the value of organic farming practices.
“We need to adopt healthier eating habits and take deliberate steps to reduce food waste. A cleaner environment begins with us. While oil is declining, agriculture continues to thrive, it is the true source of wealth,” they stated.
The event was attended by several students from various schools in Lagos who are part of the Young Farmers Club.
