Lagos Food Festival Empowers Entrepreneurs, as Sanwo-Olu Showcases Cooking Skills

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the state’s annual food festival has empowered numerous entrepreneurs over the past six years while also providing a platform for families to come together, relax, and experience the rich diversity of cuisines that tell the Lagos food story and reflect its multicultural identity.

The governor made the remark on Sunday after participating in the cooking and tasting of seafood rice with stir-fried spinach at the 2025 Lagos Food Festival, themed “Taste Beyond Borders,” which was held at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, and featured music, entertainment, and a wide range of local and international delicacies.

Sanwo-Olu explained that the Lagos Food Festival is one of the flagship initiatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, noting that the ministry has rolled out several interventions aimed at boosting agriculture, food security, and entrepreneurship across the state.

He added that beyond supporting food businesses, the festival plays a vital role in encouraging unity, cultural appreciation, and collaboration among players in the catering and food industry, while showcasing the uniqueness of Lagos through its diverse food culture.

The governor also noted that the event creates opportunities for innovators in the food sector to gain visibility, expand their businesses, and thrive as entrepreneurs within and beyond Lagos State.

“The Lagos Food Festival is part of the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems. They have empowered many entrepreneurs and continued to support innovators in the food business, giving them opportunities to grow and thrive,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“I cooked seafood rice with stir-fried spinach and tasted my own cooking. This festival is about families coming together, encouraging people in the food and catering space, and using food as one of the ways we tell the Lagos story,” he added.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, described the festival as a celebration of Lagos’ cultural diversity and culinary heritage, noting that it provides exposure for food value chain actors, helps consolidate the ministry’s interventions, and has produced many successful food entrepreneurs over the years.