The Presidency, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, in partnership with UNESCO REF and the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Lagos State Chapter, has launched a tailored Urban Agriculture Training Programme aimed at empowering women and strengthening food security in Lagos State.
Speaking at the inauguration, Yejide Ogundipe, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and recognises women as critical drivers of Nigeria’s food system.
She explained that the programme is designed to boost Lagos State’s agricultural value chain while promoting innovation, sustainability, and financial inclusion for women. The initiative, themed “Seed of Empowerment: Growing Women in Lagos,” equips participants with practical skills, resources, and income opportunities in urban farming.
Ogundipe added that the programme is anchored on the National Agricultural Technology Innovation Policy (NATIP) and linked to the ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund under the Produce for Lagos Programme launched in July 2025. Beneficiaries, she said, are assured of a steady income every two to three weeks, translating empowerment into real financial stability for households.
Organisers also announced plans to scale the programme in 2026 to reach at least 120,000 women across all local governments and LCDAs in Lagos State.
In his remarks, President of UNESCO REF, Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, described the initiative as a shift from charity to sustainable empowerment.
“Philanthropy offers short-term relief, but capacity building delivers long-term financial freedom,” he said, adding that the programme is designed to transform lives and communities. He noted that while the pilot is in Lagos, the initiative is intended to expand nationwide to support women-led agriculture and strengthen Nigeria’s food system.
Chairperson of Lagos State POWA, Mrs. Risqat Jimoh, highlighted the wider social impact of empowering women, noting that it strengthens families, communities, and food security. She disclosed that each participant will receive a Tier 2 certificate, which also guarantees subsidised access for their children to future agricultural programmes, ensuring generational impact.
To enable immediate application of skills, she said participants were provided with seed varieties to kickstart their farming activities, ensuring the programme delivers hands-on, practical empowerment.
One of the beneficiaries, Aisha Abiola Sanni, described the initiative as a viable alternative source of income. She said the opportunity would help her save and plan as she completes her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
The initiative is supported by partners including the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), The Lichfield, Op3n Labs USA, Women’s Space USA, and others, under UNESCO REF’s Strategic Intervention Programme – Alpha Category 2 Framework.
Organisers noted that improved household income is a strong crime deterrent, positioning the programme as both an economic and social intervention, as well as a viable corporate social responsibility (CSR) model for partners interested in women’s empowerment and food security.
