The Lagos State government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a practical and technology-driven agricultural education among the students.
The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, said the idea is a strategic intervention to ignite the interest of secondary school students in modern agriculture practices.
Speaking at the 2026 edition of the Lagos Agric Scholars programme where 12 schools emerged winners after participating in the Open Field Vegetable Production Competition, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, said the objective of the competition is to promote food security and entrepreneurship.
About 25 public and private schools drawn from six educational districts of Lagos State were selected to participate in the competition.
After weeks of commitment, innovation, and healthy competition, 12 schools were selected and rewarded with the Greenhouse facility.
Dr. Fashola said the essence of the initiative is to celebrate innovation and highlight the growing commitment of the young people to agriculture and food systems development in Lagos State.
“Agriculture has been a key part of our education and it has evolved far beyond the subsistence farming. Today, it is driven by science, technology, climate, smart practices, mechanisation, precision farming, digital innovation, and value addition.
“Through this program, our students are being introduced to these modern agricultural practices, while developing leadership, entrepreneurial, and life skills that will prepare them for future opportunities.
“The open field of agriculture is a key part of our education production competition and it has provided participating schools with the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in practical farming,” he said.
The Greenhouse facility, according to the Special Adviser, will enable the beneficiary schools to practice protected agriculture cultivation, improve crop productivity, reduce pests and disease incidents, and produce high quality vegetables throughout the year.
“The houses being presented are not mere prizes, they are strategic investments in the future of agricultural education in our school’s strategy,” he stressed
In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite applauded the initiative of introducing the students in the modern farming techniques, saying that the intervention aligns with the vision of the Lagos State Government in the area of education, food security, youth empowerment.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Mr. Emmanuel Fatai Audu, said that “Agriculture has gone beyond hoes and cutlasses, saying the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has in the past years expanded access to improved technologies that enhanced practical learning and sustain a youth-driven agribusiness development.”
Out of the 12 winning schools, the first three outstanding schools were accorded special recognition and these include; Home Science Association Secondary school with highest scores, followed by Abule Eko Community Senior Grammar school and Kith and Kin international college in third position.
