The Lagos State Government has generated over 15,000 jobs for residents through the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme (LAP), a strategic intervention designed to equip young people with modern agricultural skills.
The initiative targets youths between the ages of 18 and 30, utilizing a combination of intensive training, internships, and mentorship to highlight economic opportunities within the food system. The program aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems’ commitment to the state’s THEMES+ Developmental Agenda, focusing on capacity building and national food security.
Speaking at the closing ceremony for the 26th cohort at the Agricultural Training Institute in Araga, Epe, the Institute’s Director, Ms. Folake Ogunlana-Lawal, highlighted the program’s significant multiplier effect on the local economy.
“The Lagos Agripreneurship Programme has trained over 5,000 people, with each beneficiary creating jobs for an average of an additional two to three people,” Ogunlana-Lawal said. “LAP emerges as a cornerstone, focusing on youth training and capacity building in modern agricultural practices.”
Modelled after Israel’s Arava International Center for Agriculture Training (AICAT), the program emphasizes a learning by doing philosophy. Participants undergo a four-month cycle including one month of on-site demonstration and three months of internship with reputable agro-allied companies. During the training phase, the state government provides free accommodation, feeding, and safety materials.
Ogunlana-Lawal noted that the objective is to build a resilient agricultural sector by promoting climate-smart practices and reducing unemployment. She also announced that the next intake of trainees is scheduled to resume on February 22, 2026.
Successful participants eventually transition to an incubation period at the Lagos Food Production and Entrepreneurial Centre in Songhai, Badagry. The Director attributed the program’s success to the support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems.
Beneficiaries of the latest cohort expressed their readiness to contribute to the state’s food production. Ayodeji Oyindamola John, a graduate of Agriculture Extension, noted that the program bridged the gap between academic theory and practical farming. Fellow trainee Balogun Saheed Ololade, who specialized in aquaculture and pig production, stated his intention to establish a private agribusiness to contribute to the country’s meat production.
As the ceremony concluded, Ogunlana-Lawal encouraged the new graduates to join the Lagos Agrinnovation Club to maintain professional networks and continue driving innovation within the sector.
