Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on Monday disbursed N46 million to empower 200 Lagosians as part of the Lagos Chapter of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Agricultural Support Programme (RHI-ASP).
The launch, held at the VIP Car Park of Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, underscores a bold commitment to enhancing food security and fostering sustainable agricultural practices across the state.
Addressing a diverse audience of stakeholders, Dr. Sanwo-Olu highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the vision of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who has prioritized agriculture as a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“This shift has reawakened consciousness, especially among women and youth, to embrace agriculture as a sustainable means of livelihood,” Dr. Sanwo-Olu stated in her keynote address, crediting Senator Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative for driving this transformative agenda.
The RHI-ASP comprises four core components: the Women Agricultural Support Program (WASP), Youth Agricultural Support Program (YASP), Every Home a Garden (EHAG), and Young Farmers Club (YFC). Dr. Sanwo-Olu announced that N200,000 had been transferred to each of 200 beneficiaries under WASP and YASP, while N100,000 was disbursed to each of 60 beneficiaries under EHAG, aimed at promoting urban gardening and self-sufficiency.
“A sum of N200,000 has been transferred to each of the 200 beneficiaries present here under the Women and Youth Agricultural Support Programme. In addition, N100,000 each is being disbursed to 60 beneficiaries under the Every Home A Garden initiative,” she confirmed.
A significant improvement this year is the immediate disbursement of funds at the program’s outset, a departure from last year’s six-month delay.
“This change reflects our commitment to immediate impact and timely support,” Dr. Sanwo-Olu emphasized, adding that “strict monitoring and continuous follow-up” will ensure measurable outcomes. She noted that only beneficiaries who completed the online registration accurately would receive payments today, with others to be processed later upon submission of required details.
The initiative spans all 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across Lagos’s three Senatorial Districts, impacting 380 direct beneficiaries, including members of 27 agricultural associations recognized by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems.
Additionally, 120 students from 24 schools across the state’s six education districts will participate in the YFC 2.0 project, equipped with farming tools, seeds for crops like tomatoes, pepper, and maize, and the YFC Pledge to foster their role as “food soldiers.”
Dr. Sanwo-Olu also acknowledged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s support, which provided over N60 million per state earlier this year to bolster the RHI-ASP.
She highlighted Lagos’s pioneering role, noting that the state was the first to launch the Young Farmers Club in October 2024, engaging over 200 children on World Food Day. The 2024 EHAG competition, utilizing the IBILE methodology, further showcased Lagos’s innovative approach to grassroots farming.
Looking ahead, Dr. Sanwo-Olu outlined plans to expand the initiative’s inclusivity by incorporating senatorial districts and online participation, with future goals to include professional categories, people with special needs, and faith-based methodologies.
She also emphasized partnerships with entities like the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Ministry of Wealth Creation, Ministry of Commerce, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, and financial institutions like Keystone Bank and Ecobank to drive agricultural development and food security.
“The documentary shown earlier bears testimony to the remarkable impact our beneficiaries and Young Farmers Club have already made at the grassroots level,” Dr. Sanwo-Olu remarked, underscoring the initiative’s tangible results. The formal launch of these projects, she added, “will further strengthen the ideals of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Agricultural Support Programme.”
