The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has encouraged women across the state to adopt urban agriculture practices within their homes to promote food security, improve household nutrition, and support environmental sustainability.
She made this call during an exclusive interview with the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) team, as part of activities marking the agency’s 30th anniversary, at her residence, Lagos State House, Marina, on Friday.
Speaking on the importance of home-based agriculture, Dr. Sanwo-Olu urged women to embrace urban farming, emphasising that even the smallest spaces can be creatively utilised. “You don’t need a large plot of land to grow food,” she said. “With buckets, old tyres, and containers, anyone can start a home garden. Fish farming and vegetable cultivation are great options that can thrive within limited spaces.”
She further highlighted the importance of using modern techniques such as hydroponics – an innovative soil-less farming method that is ideal for urban areas where space is limited. “This technique allows people without land to still grow their food efficiently, even in urban apartments,” she noted.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu also spoke about the “Every Home a Garden” project, which aims to encourage residents to practice agriculture within their homes using accessible materials and techniques. The project aligns with the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, which seeks to empower women and youth across the country through agricultural development.
“As part of this initiative, we have been mandated to establish Young Farmers’ Clubs in schools and communities, in the spirit of catching them young,” she revealed, “These clubs offer training and provide essential tools such as seedlings, buckets, wheelbarrows, fertilisers, and other agricultural implements to encourage active participation.”
The First Lady expressed her love for nature, sharing her joy in watching seeds grow into thriving plants, saying “Something is fulfilling about seeing life emerge from a seed – it teaches patience, responsibility, and hope.”
She emphasised the Lagos State Government’s commitment to strengthening food systems through the establishment of Food Hubs and Agricultural Innovation Hubs across the state’s five divisions. “These hubs are designed to promote agricultural practices, improve access to fresh produce, and build resilience in the food value chain,” she added.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu took the LSADA crew on a tour of her home garden, where she cultivates vegetables and rears fish, to underscore her commitment to the advocacy of urban agriculture.
As a token of appreciation for her contributions to the development of urban agriculture in Lagos State, the LSADA team presented a 50 kg capacity fish smoking kiln to the First Lady.
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