By Lukman Olabiyi
A total of 87 farmers in Lagos State have received agricultural grants amounting to N11.4 million under the 2025 Agricultural Support Programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI-ASP), spearheaded by the Federal Government.
The presentation, which took place at the Lagos House in Ikeja on Monday, saw 27 beneficiaries in the youth and women categories each receive N200,000 along with essential farming inputs aimed at boosting productivity.
The remaining 60 farmers, drawn from the state’s senatorial districts, received N100,000 each under the “Every Home A Garden 2.0” scheme.
The grant recipients are engaged in diverse agricultural activities, including fisheries, vegetable farming, garri processing, poultry, beekeeping, and zobo drink production.
In a bid to attract younger generations to agriculture, 120 students from 24 schools; five each from junior and senior categories will participate in the Young Farmers Club (YFC) 2.0 project.
This initiative forms part of efforts to promote agricultural awareness and education among school-aged children.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, lauded the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for supporting the programme with a N60 million grant.
She highlighted the four core components of the Renewed Hope Initiative: the Women Agricultural Support Programme, Youth Agricultural Support Programme, Every Home A Garden, and the Young Farmers Club—all launched simultaneously across Nigeria’s 36 states.
“This initiative is reawakening the consciousness of women and youth to see agriculture as a viable and sustainable means of livelihood. The Lagos story is changing towards a future where no one goes to bed hungry, and our people, especially women and youth, are financially independent,” Dr. Sanwo-Olu said.
Also speaking at the event, the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, described the programme as a strategic move to boost household food production and economic opportunities. She encouraged beneficiaries to “plant the seed with care.”
Agriculture experts Femi Ojelade, with over two decades of farming experience, and Omolara Oguntuyi, Lagos Coordinator for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized the significance of organic farming and sustainable practices. They urged youths to embrace agriculture as a profession of the future.
“Agriculture is wealth. Oil may fade, but agriculture will remain. Let’s reduce waste, eat healthy, and protect our environment,” they advised.
The event was attended by beneficiaries, government officials, and students from the Young Farmers Club across the state.
