Tuesday, September 9, 2025 - The Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has emphasised that Nigeria cannot afford to rely on crude oil as the anchor of the economy in this century, and that agriculture remains Nigeria’s most strategic pathway to diversification, job creation, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth.
Gabriel Idahosa, President/Chairman of Council, Lagos
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), stated this while speaking at the 2025
Annual Fair Symposium of the Agriculture and Allied Group held at the LCCI
Conference and Exhibition Centre, Alausa with the theme: “Agri-Business in the
21st Century: Changing the Narrative.”
“We are here as stakeholders in a movement to transform the
way our society perceives, invests in, and benefits from agriculture and
agribusiness. We are here to move agriculture from being seen as a survival
activity to being understood and embraced as a wealth-creating,
technology-driven, globally competitive sector,” he said.
Idahosa who was represented by Abimbola Olashore, the
Vice-President of LCCI, said that the 21st century has brought with it
unprecedented challenges, climate change, food insecurity, supply chain
disruptions, and changing consumption patterns and that it has also opened new
frontiers for innovation, digital agriculture, biotechnology, precision
farming, climate-smart systems, and agro-value chain integration.
“Across the globe, agriculture is no longer just about
tilling the soil. It is about data-driven farming, drone monitoring fields,
smart irrigation systems, vertical farming in urban spaces, blockchain ensuring
transparency in food supply chains, and young agripreneurs building startups
that attract venture capital just as tech companies do.
“For Nigeria and Africa, this changing narrative is not a
luxury, it is a necessity. With a population projected to exceed 400 million by
2050, Nigeria must position agriculture as both a food security imperative and
an economic growth driver,” he added.
Bureau of Statistics, he said that agriculture currently
contributes over 25% to Nigeria’s GDP, employing nearly 35 per cent of our
labor force. “Yet, this potential remains under-optimized. The fact that
Nigeria still spends billions annually importing food is a call to action. The
good news is that the narrative is already shifting. Across Nigeria, innovative
agribusiness leaders are proving that agriculture can be profitable,
competitive, and transformational,” he said.
Tunde Banjoko, the Chairman Agric and Agro Allied Group
while speaking said that LCCI is determined to change public perception of
farming by making it an attractive, technology-driven and rewarding profession
for the 21st century.
He said that this year’s focus was inspired by the need to
project agriculture as a modern career path capable of fulfilling young
people’s aspirations.
“You know, like the President said a few weeks ago,
agriculture should be sexy. It should be a profession that you are proud of.
All of us have dreams and aspirations, and you can achieve those dreams while
practicing as a farmer.”
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