By Ayomide Otitoju
The Lagos State Government has generated over 15,000 jobs through its Lagos Agripreneurship Programme (LAP), a youth-focused initiative designed to equip young residents with modern agricultural skills and expand opportunities within the state’s food system.
The programme targets youths between the ages of 18 and 30 and aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems’ mandate under the THEMES+ Development Agenda, which prioritises capacity building, employment creation and food security.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the four-week training for the 26th cohort of LAP at the Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe, the institute’s Director, Folake Ogunlana-Lawal, described the programme as a key platform for developing youth capacity in modern agribusiness practices.
She noted that LAP has trained over 5,000 participants directly, with each beneficiary creating employment opportunities for an average of two to three additional persons, contributing significantly to job creation across the state. Ogunlana-Lawal also announced that the next batch of trainees is scheduled to resume on February 22, 2026.
According to her, the programme is designed to build a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector by equipping young people with agripreneurial skills, promoting climate-smart farming practices, reducing unemployment and strengthening food security in Lagos State.
She explained that LAP, conceptualised in 2020 and modelled after Israel’s Arava International Center for Agriculture Training (AICAT), adopts a “learning-by-doing” approach. The programme runs for four months, comprising one month of intensive on-site training at the Lagos State Agricultural Training and Entrepreneurial Centre in Araga-Epe, followed by a three-month internship and mentorship phase with reputable agro-allied companies and farms. Successful participants also undergo an incubation stage at the Lagos Food Production and Entrepreneurial Centre, Songhai, Badagry.
Ogunlana-Lawal commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his sustained support for the programme and other agricultural development initiatives in the state. She also acknowledged the contributions of stakeholders and officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, including the Commissioner, Abisola Olusanya, and the Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Audu, for their roles in advancing the initiative.
She further praised the commitment and enthusiasm of the trainees, urging them to apply the knowledge gained and explore opportunities in agribusiness. Ogunlana-Lawal encouraged graduates of the programme to join the Lagos Agrinnovation Club to foster collaboration, innovation and knowledge-sharing in the agricultural sector.
Two beneficiaries of the programme, Ayodeji Oyindamola John and Balogun Saheed Ololade, expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government and the Agricultural Training Institute for the opportunity provided.
Ayodeji, a graduate of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development from the University of Ilorin, said the programme enhanced his practical knowledge of agriculture and commended the government’s investment in youth empowerment and food security.
Balogun, who specialised in aquaculture and pig production during the training, said the programme equipped him with professional skills and pledged to establish an agribusiness venture to contribute to local meat production and job creation.
