The Presidency, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Read-and-Earn Federation (UNESCO REF) and the Lagos State Chapter of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), has launched a customized urban agriculture training program in Lagos State.
The initiative is designed to strengthen the agricultural food system of Lagos State while empowering women through innovation, sustainability and financial inclusion.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, Barr. Yejide Ogundipe, speaking during the formal inauguration of the initiative on Friday, reaffirmed the alignment of the program with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting that women farmers must be recognized as vital contributors to Nigeria’s food security.
The programme, titled “Seed of Empowerment: Growing Women in Lagos”, equips women with tools, knowledge and opportunities to thrive in urban agriculture.
Ogundipe further noted that the initiative aligns with the National Agricultural Technology Innovation Policy (NATIP) and directly connects to the £500 billion Procurement Guarantee Fund under the Produce for Lagos Programme, launched in early July 2025.
Participants are guaranteed a stable income every two to three weeks, ensuring that empowerment translates into tangible financial stability for households.
Organizers announced plans to expand the customized program in 2026, targeting at least 120,000 women across all local governments and LCDAs in Lagos State.
Furthermore, UNESCO REF President Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, for his part, emphasized that the customized program is not charity but empowerment, saying: “Philanthropy provides immediate relief, but capacity building empowers people to achieve financial freedom and long-term sustainability. What we are launching today is designed to transform lives and communities.”
Beyond Lagos, the mission is expected to extend across the federation, ensuring that women in all states of Nigeria benefit from sustainable agricultural empowerment and contribute to strengthening the national food system.
Mrs. Risqat Jimoh, President of POWA, Lagos State, highlighted the importance of women empowerment both locally and nationally, noting that the initiative strengthens families, communities and the food system in Lagos.
“Each participant would receive a Level 2 certificate, which not only recognizes training but also guarantees subsidized entry for their children into future agricultural programs.
“This ensures that empowerment becomes generational, extending the benefits beyond the immediate participants.
“To ensure that participants can immediately apply their training, each woman was provided with seed varieties to boost their learning and farming practice. This practical support ensures that the program moves beyond theory to real, practical empowerment, allowing participants to start growing produce immediately.”
Added to this, Aisha Abiola Sanni, participant and beneficiary, described the program as “an alternative means of financial income.” She explained that as a member of the youth corps, the opportunity positions her to save and prepare to complete her year of service and future plans.
The customized initiative is supported by partners such as NIHORT (National Horticultural Research Institute), IAR&T (Institute of Agricultural Research and Training), The Lichfield, Op3n Labs USA, Women’s Space USA and others, under the flagship UNESCO Strategic Intervention Program REF: Alpha Category Framework 2.
Organizers noted that financial stability in households is one of the strongest deterrents against crime, positioning the program as both an economic and social intervention. It also serves as a CSR model for corporate partners interested in investing in women’s empowerment and food security.
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