The Lagos Agrinnovation Summit 1.0, themed ‘Shaping Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems for the Next Generation,’ brought together visionaries, policymakers, and agripreneurs to explore transformative solutions for agriculture and food systems in Nigeria. Among the key highlights was a powerful keynote address by Prince Samuel J. Samuel, Executive Chairman of Origin Tech Group, who highlighted the critical role of innovation in shaping Nigeria’s agricultural future.
Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, represented by Chief of Staff Tayo Ayinde, opened the summit with a call for innovative practices to reduce food waste and build resilient food systems. “We need to find innovative ways to reduce food waste, increase efficiency, and ensure that our food systems are resilient in the face of climate change and global challenges,” Sanwo-Olu stated. He emphasised the importance of engaging youth in driving agricultural transformation, describing their energy and ideas as the catalysts for progress.
Sanwo-Olu further affirmed Lagos State’s commitment to creating a sustainable agri-business ecosystem that not only meets the state’s needs but positions Lagos as a leader in food security and agricultural excellence across Africa.
In his keynote address, Prince Samuel of Origin Tech Group delivered a compelling vision for the future of Nigeria’s food systems. He advocated for cluster farming to reduce waste, maximise efficiency, and enhance food security. “No place on Earth provides greater opportunities than Nigeria, especially in agriculture,” he declared, urging the youth to see agriculture as a vital path to economic empowerment.
Prince Samuel highlighted agriculture’s interconnected nature, describing it as the foundation of all professions. “To succeed in agriculture, you must be a water engineer, economist, mechanical engineer, and more. It is the sector that connects everything,” he explained.
Addressing pressing challenges such as food insecurity and climate change, he described agriculture as a $10 billion opportunity, particularly in Lagos, a city uniquely positioned for agribusiness success due to its thriving logistics and production infrastructure.
The summit also celebrated the achievements of the Lagos Agrinnovation Club, a state initiative fostering collaboration and innovation among young agripreneurs. In a testament to its commitment to supporting emerging leaders in agriculture, the Lagos State government awarded ₦100 million in grants to 25 finalists of the Lagos Agrithon program.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, spoke on the summit’s inclusivity, stating, “This space is not only for the select few; it’s for everyone, especially our youth, who are redefining the face of agriculture in Nigeria.”
Drawing on global data from the FAO and WFP, Prince Samuel outlined agriculture’s significance on the world stage. With the global food market valued at $8 trillion and the demand for sustainable food rising, he urged stakeholders to leverage these opportunities to position Nigeria as a global food systems leader.
In his closing remarks, Prince Samuel called on youth to embrace resilience, preparation, and mentorship as they chart their journeys in agriculture. “Each of us has a journey—a goal to pursue and challenges to overcome. The key is to remain steadfast and seize the opportunities before us,” he said.
The Lagos Agrinnovation Summit stands as a testament to the collective resolve of Lagos State and innovative organizations like Origin Tech Group to foster a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future for agriculture in Nigeria.
Origin Tech Group is a knowledge-based and practical solution driven conglomerate across verticals which includes engineering design and construction, automotive and transportation, trade and supply chain management as well as a frontline innovator in Agri-tech and food systems that has been transforming the agriculture and livestock value chain across the West African communities over the past 25 years. It has over the last two years aligned with the various government and institutions especially with the Lagos State Government’s Agriculture Transformation Roadmap under the Five-Year Agricultural Roadmap which aims to increase food production, distribution and self sufficiency from 18% to 40% through the partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems in Lagos State.
Through cutting-edge technology, strategic investments, and community empowerment, the company is driving sustainable development and positioning Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse. Recently, it also aligned with the Federal Government when it signed the national agricultural transformation initiative tagged the Greener Hope Large Scale Mechanisation Agriculture Productivity Programme (GHAPP), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at a quantum leap for the Nigerian agricultural sector which is fast emerging as a critical force in addressing the nation’s food security challenges and eventually enthroning food sovereignty. GHAPP is a joint initiative of the Federal Government with the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, and Water Resources and Sanitation and Origin Tech Group. This transformative programme is set to substantially revolutionise Nigeria’s agriculture by providing sustainable access to modern farm machinery and implements, eliminate drudgery, manage post-harvest losses and significantly boost crop yields across the country.
Origin Tech Group, an agricultural value-chain conglomerate has been extremely pleased to be working with the Federal Government to birth this innovate programme with critical structures and promises to place Nigeria on a higher pedestal to impact every aspect of farming both in the commercial segment and small holder enterprises; raising and promoting new agricultural ecosystem in her quest for food security, wealth creation, job opportunities and help spur economic growth.
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