The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to eradicate hunger, poverty and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs relating to agriculture.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu re-echoed this in a message to this year’s Farmers Fair, organised by the State Ministry of Agriculture to commemorate the World Food Day, with the theme : “Safe Food Today For a healthy Tomorrow”

The Governor pointed out that his administration had implemented numerous projects and programmes to tackle hunger, malnutrition, unemployment, and under-employment and also boost food production and supply systems, in line with the Lagos State Agricultural and Food System Roadmap, 2021-2025.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folasade Jaji, Governor Sanwo-Olu urged the entire world to act now to create inclusive economic growth, alleviate inequities, boost resilience, and achieve the SDGs.

“Let me assure you of this administration’s commitment to intensifying our drive to support our farmers, encourage small and medium scale agro-processors, and create an enabling environment for private sector involvement in agriculture, as this will go a long way towards expanding the economy.

This year’s World Food Day is coming at a time when many economies are grappling with serious food security issues caused by numerous factors including the war between Russia and Ukraine, climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, inequalities, and other violent conflicts across regions both nationally and internationally.

The entire globe must act now.

The 2022 World Food Day campaign calls for global solidarity and action to restructure agrifood systems in order to create inclusive economic growth, alleviate inequities, boost resilience, and achieve sustainable development. This must be met for us to have a certain and healthy tomorrow” the Governor emphasized.

While welcoming the large numbers of people who had turned up for the Fair, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya who listed series of activities to enhance the annual World Food Day in Lagos involving all farmers and young school children as part of efforts to encourage them to embrace agriculture, said the annaul event has always been observed to celebrate Farmers.

She said “It is worthy to note that the Ministry of Agriculture under the administration of Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has since inception embarked on programmes and reforms driven towards ensuring a food secured State. There are also policies geared towards making the space profitable for stakeholders in various value chains that have been implemented”

The highlights of the celebration include dancing/march past by farmers from all Local government and Council Development Areas with their various produce and livestock, presentation of prizes and awards to outstanding farmers and winners of the various competitions organised for students in State-owned schools, as well as the winner of
the Public Speaking competition under the Lagos Agric Scholars Programme, LASP.

Miss Klistiwedo Hunpe from Kankon Senior Model College, Badagry who came first was decorated as the Agric Ambassadors for Year 2022 to Year 2023 during the Farmers Fair, while outstanding farmers went home with different prizes, including a deep chest freezer each.

Ikorodu North LCDA was ably led by Asiwaju Wale Ogunbela JP The Supervisor for Agriculture, rural development and Chieftancy affairs Ikorodu North LCDA.

The AFAN and LASCAFAN members were all represented, HOD Agriculture, members and staffs of Ikorodu North LCDA.