Tony Elumelu Foundation Donates ₦25 Billion to Support Food Security And Job Creation Initiative By Sanwolu

Tony Elumelu, Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), has announced a ₦25 billion donation to support the newly launched Produce for Lagos Programme.

The initiative, developed by the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company, aims to streamline agricultural supply chains, improve market access for farmers, and foster sustainable livelihoods across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

Elumelu made the announcement during the programme’s official launch held on Wednesday in Lagos, affirming his commitment to addressing youth unemployment through agriculture-driven solutions.

“In a few years’ time, this initiative will help us face the challenge of joblessness among our young ones,” Elumelu said. “We believe that joblessness is a great problem for our youth. They shouldn’t be jobless — we have arable lands.”

He called on public and private sector stakeholders to work collectively to actualise the programme’s vision, describing it as “our initiative.”

“Whatever Your Excellency wants us to do at UBA, Transcorp Group, Tony Elumelu Foundation, and Heirs Holdings, we will do,” he pledged.

A ₦500 Billion Offtake Fund and Strategic Vision

Abisola Olusanya, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, formally launched the initiative alongside a ₦500 billion offtake guarantee fund designed to ensure stable demand for agricultural produce and reduce post-harvest losses.

Olusanya said the Produce for Lagos Programme is a key pillar of the Lagos Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap, introduced in 2021.

“The programme is designed to strengthen ties with major food-producing states, improve supply chain efficiency, reduce food costs, guarantee market access for farmers and agribusinesses, and create sustainable livelihoods across the agricultural value chain,” she said.

She noted that the initiative also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agriculture and food security as national goals.

Building a Resilient Agricultural Economy

By leveraging a data-driven framework, the programme seeks to address the informal, uncoordinated flow of food into Lagos and establish the state as a reliable off-taker and strategic partner in regional agricultural trade.

In March 2024, the governments of Lagos and Niger States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on inter-state food production and supply, further strengthening Lagos’ push for food system sustainability.