Anietie Udobit, Abuja
Tony Elumelu, chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), has donated N25 billion to support the Produce for Lagos Programme, an initiative of the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company.
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The programme is expected to enhance food security and promote economic development in the state.
Elumelu announced the donation during the launch of the initiative on Wednesday in Lagos.
“In a few years time, it will help us face the challenge of joblessness of our young ones,” Elumelu said.
“We believe that joblessness is a great problem of our young people. They shouldn’t be jobless, we have arable lands.”
He urged all stakeholders to collaborate and bring the vision to life, describing it as “our initiative”.
“Whatever your Excellency wants us to do at United Bank of Africa, Transcorp Group, Tony Elumelu Foundation, and Heirs Holdings, we will do,” Elumelu said.
Abisola Olusanya, the state’s commissioner for the ministry of agriculture and food systems, said the initiative is part of the Lagos State Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap, which was launched in 2021.
She explained that the programme addresses the informal and uncoordinated flow of food into Lagos by introducing a data-driven framework that enables states to track and optimise the supply of agricultural produce to the state.
“The Produce for Lagos Programme is designed to strengthen ties with major food-producing States, improve supply chain efficiency, reduce food costs and post-harvest losses, guarantee market access for farmers and agribusinesses, create sustainable livelihoods across the agricultural value chain,” Olusanya said.
“This is in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritises agriculture and food security as national goals.”