Wale Jagun
Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya has charged the Agric startups to leverage on technology to provide solutions to the economic challenges and rising cost of food items in the country.
Olusanya who gave this charge during the ‘Agrinnovation Tribe Hang Out’ held at the Impact Hub, Ikoyi Lagos urged them to see themselves as part of the solution.
Agrinovation Club is an Initiative of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture aimed at harmonising and solving common problems associated with startups in the Agric sector and it provides room for genuine partnership and networking among the experts to grow their various businesses.
Olusanya said that findings had shown that dearth of bad road, lack of power, absence of good storage facility, illegal multiple tax payments by farmers among others were attributed to the high cost of food items, as the country is capable of feeding its people with the available Agricultural resources.
The Commissioner stressed that the Agrinnovation club must take up the responsibility to lead by example, have faith in the country, project and bring about positive changes needed to develop the country.
She however advised them to inspire young Nigerians to value what they do in order to ensure sustainability, stressing that state government will provide them with financial support where necessary and also engage experts to provide solutions to their peculiar challenges at little or no cost.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer Eko Innovation Centre, Mr Victor Afolabi said the current food crisis is not peculiar to Nigeria as other parts of the world have experienced such challenges but were all surmounted through the involvement of the young minds.
Afolabi encouraged the participants to find opportunities in the Agricultural space while closing gaps in the supply value chains to reduce the escalating prices of food items in the country.
He said the biggest problem for new business and startups in the county is not access to finance but to the markets, calling for the adoption of technology and holistic approach to transform the country’s economy.
While making presentation on insights for business legal structure, a Legal and Financial expert, Mr Omoruyi Edoigiawerie, advised club members to imbibe the idea of starting a business small and nurture it to grow.
He challenged them to equip themselves with knowledge and skills set that will upgrade thier businesses to thrive in this fragile global economy and ensure they seek expertise advise whenever legal issues arise.
The Head Startups, Lagos Innovates, Hakeem Onasanya took the participants through the process of pitching before potential investors and sponsors which can enhance their chances when making a pitch.
Members of the Agrinnovation tribe in attendance includes; Admiralty Farmers Market, Ecotutu, Farmz2u, fisherwoman, pricepally.com, agristi.com, Soilless Farm Lab, Corporate Farmers International, Ofada boy amongst others.
