Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, has pledged N25 billion to support the Lagos State Government’s Produce for Lagos Programme.
The announcement was made on July 23, 2025, during the official launch of the initiative and the N500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund, held at Lagos House in Ikeja.
Elumelu’s contribution is the largest private sector commitment to the programme so far.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening food security, fixing supply chain issues, and expanding access to agricultural produce throughout Lagos State.
Applauding the state government’s efforts, Elumelu described the move as a transformative step toward economic inclusion.
He emphasized that the programme could significantly reduce youth unemployment by engaging young people in meaningful agricultural activities across the state’s available farmlands.
“This initiative will tackle the root causes of joblessness. Agriculture has the power to employ millions, if we invest the right way,” Elumelu said.
“We at Heirs Holdings are committing N25 billion to support this food systems transformation. We will work hand-in-hand with the Lagos State Government to scale its impact by creating jobs.”
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He noted that the N25 billion support will be disbursed through the United Bank for Africa (UBA), and he also announced an additional N1 billion donation to the Lagos State Government during the event.
Before Elumelu’s pledge, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had launched the N500 billion Uptake Guarantee Fund, which he described as a necessary response to problems revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and global supply chain disruptions.
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos must become more self-sufficient, pointing to data showing the state consumes over half of the food produced in the Southwest.
In line with its food strategy, the Lagos State Government had already renamed its Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems in 2024, a move meant to reflect the broader role of food in driving social and economic growth.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, described the fund as a catalyst for improving the food value chain through guaranteed offtake, better logistics, and stronger rural-urban integration.
She highlighted new infrastructure like the Lagos Fresh Hub and noted ongoing efforts to empower youth and innovators in agriculture.
Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, praised the initiative as a timely, collaborative model aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, also spoke at the launch, calling food security a pillar of national stability and supporting the development of ranches as a solution to herder-farmer clashes.
The Produce for Lagos Programme is being executed by the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company in partnership with private sector stakeholders.
It is designed to ensure market access for farmers, cut post-harvest losses, and strengthen links between Lagos and Nigeria’s major food-producing areas, positioning the state as a key hub for agribusiness and investment.
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Image Credit: Nairametrics
