Lagos Pushes Startups to Rethink Farming Future

Lagos State is betting on startups to revitalise Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Speaking at the first-ever PricePally Impact Summit on Monday, Abisola Olusanya, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, urged entrepreneurs to step into the space with scalable, tech-driven ideas that meet both farmers’ and consumers’ needs.

The summit, held in Lagos, brought together players from across the food chain — including agritech innovators, investors, logistics operators, and policy experts. The event’s spotlight was on how to make fresh food more accessible, affordable, and sustainable in one of Africa’s most complex food economies.

Olusanya praised the contributions of platforms like PricePally, which she said had proven their relevance during volatile periods. “Startups like PricePally have bridged the gap between farmers and consumers, even during disruptions,” she said. “They create value for both producers and buyers. These are exactly the kinds of businesses the government is looking to support.”

From Crisis Response to Future Farming

The commissioner made specific reference to the pandemic, noting that tech-backed food distribution helped soften supply chain blows. PricePally’s model, which uses group buying and direct-from-farm logistics, emerged as a standout during this time.

Luther Lawoyin, CEO of PricePally, spoke about the startup’s mission to shift how Nigeria treats its farmers. “Being a farmer in Nigeria is tough. We want to flip that script. Farmers should be celebrated and financially secure; they are the backbone of our food system,” he said.

Beyond logistics, inclusivity in agriculture was another key focus. Speakers spotlighted the importance of integrating women and young people. Examples included agri-call centres in northern Nigeria aimed at engaging rural women, and urban-friendly models like soilless farming making food production more accessible in crowded cities.