Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to encouraging innovative individuals and groups capable of scaling up the state’s food security systems.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance at the 2025 Lagos Food Festival held at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, with the theme “Taste Without Borders”.
The governor said that over the past eleven months, the state government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, had implemented several interventions and empowerment initiatives that have positively impacted agripreneurs and the entire agricultural value chain.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems has done a great deal this year. It has empowered many entrepreneurs as part of efforts to support innovators and aggregators in the food business, allowing them to become independent and thrive as entrepreneurs.
“Families are also here to enjoy the exhibition of diverse food cultures and cuisines. You can see that the venue is filled with people. I even took on the role of a chef today. I cooked seafood rice with spinach and tasted my own cooking,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that the festival was designed to bring families together while encouraging participants in the catering and food sector, adding that food serves as a powerful tool for telling the Lagos story.
“It is about people coming out to appreciate who we are: creative and fashionable people in all areas. Food is one way to showcase our art and skills. We are doing this on a budget while opening opportunities for many young talents, smart minds and businesses that are being transformed,” he added.
The governor further noted that it was imperative for the government to design programmes that uplift citizens and promote diverse skills, stressing that his administration would continue to take necessary steps to sustain food security and ensure Lagos remains a safe and welcoming home for all.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, described the festival, now in its fifth edition as an embodiment of what Lagos represents, particularly in culinary culture fused with entertainment.
Olusanya noted that the festival had created opportunities for food actors in the state to connect, network and expand their businesses beyond borders.
She said:
“Lagos is very diverse, it is very multicultural and so we believe that in celebrating everything that is Lagos, food is the embodiment of that and we as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, we are the curators and the custodians of that, so it is best that we celebrate all of our value food chain actors and the Lagos Food Festival is a place to do so.
“We have had many stars made from the Lagos Food Festival just by reason of Mr Governor cooking along with them and tasting their foods and giving a word of encouragement. So, this is an avenue for us as the ministry of agriculture and food systems to solidify all of our interventions over the years and to celebrate everyone that makes it possible for all of us to eat in Lagos.”
She added that, given the multicultural nature of Lagos, the government remains committed to celebrating the state’s values and all food value chain actors.
Some participants at the festival, particularly food vendors, commended the state government for its continuous, all-year-round interventions aimed at ensuring the growth and sustainability of food businesses across the state.