ONYINYECHI NWAIGBA 
The Lagos Agrithon 2026 has officially opened applications, offering agripreneurs the opportunity to access up to ₦200 million in grant funding to scale innovative solutions across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
The initiative, driven by the Lagos State Government through its agriculture and food systems development agenda, is designed to identify, support, and scale high-impact agribusiness ideas that can improve food production, strengthen value chains, and create sustainable employment.
Beyond funding, the programme also provides mentorship, incubation support, and access to a network of industry experts, policymakers, and investors focused on transforming Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
About Lagos Agrithon 2026
Lagos Agrithon is a competitive innovation-driven programme targeted at agripreneurs, startups, and early-stage agribusiness ventures working on solutions that address challenges in food systems.
The initiative serves as both a hackathon and funding platform, where participants are expected to pitch scalable ideas that can solve real-world agricultural problems such as food security, productivity gaps, supply chain inefficiencies, and climate-related farming challenges.
Successful participants are selected through a competitive process and awarded grants to support implementation and expansion of their solutions.
Funding Overview
The 2026 edition provides a total grant pool of up to ₦200 million, which will be distributed among selected agripreneurs and startups based on performance, scalability, and innovation quality.
- Funding may be used for:
- Expansion of agribusiness operations
- Development of agricultural technology solutions
- Processing and value addition infrastructure
- Climate-smart farming innovations
- Supply chain and logistics improvement systems
- Research, product development, and pilot scaling
- Equipment purchase and operational support
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Lagos Agrithon 2026, applicants are expected to meet the following requirements:
- Open to agripreneurs, startups, innovators, and agribusiness founders
- Applicants must have a viable agricultural or food system-focused solution
- Ideas must demonstrate innovation, scalability, and measurable impact potential
- Both early-stage and growth-stage ventures may apply, depending on project strength
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate clear implementation capacity for their proposed solution
- The solution must address at least one key challenge in the agricultural value chain
Eligible focus areas typically include:
- Smart farming and agri-tech solutions
- Food processing and storage innovations
- Climate-smart agriculture
- Waste-to-value systems
- Market access and logistics platforms
- Productivity enhancement tools for farmers
Selection Criteria
Applications are assessed based on a combination of technical and impact-driven metrics, including:
- Innovation – originality and uniqueness of the solution
- Impact potential – ability to improve food systems, productivity, or livelihoods
- Scalability – potential for expansion beyond initial deployment
- Feasibility – clarity and practicality of execution plan
- Sustainability – long-term viability without constant external support
- Team strength – capacity and experience of the founding team
- Economic relevance – contribution to job creation and agricultural growth
Shortlisted applicants are typically invited to pitch their solutions before final selection.
Benefits of Participation
Beyond access to funding, selected agripreneurs also benefit from:
- Mentorship from agriculture and innovation experts
- Business development and incubation support
- Networking opportunities with investors and ecosystem stakeholders
- Visibility within government and private sector innovation spaces
- Potential pathways to further funding and partnerships
The programme is positioned as both a funding mechanism and a scaling platform for agritech and agribusiness innovation in Lagos and beyond.
Application Process
Interested applicants are required to:
- Submit an online application detailing their solution
- Provide a clear business or innovation pitch
- Undergo a screening and shortlisting process
- Pitch before a selection panel (for shortlisted candidates)
- Final selection and grant disbursement
Only applications that clearly demonstrate innovation and impact potential are considered for funding.
Application Timeline
Applications are currently open, and interested agripreneurs are encouraged to apply early due to the competitive nature of the programme.
Conclusion
As Nigeria continues to prioritize food security and agricultural transformation, initiatives like the Lagos Agrithon 2026 are emerging as key drivers of innovation in the sector. By combining funding, mentorship, and ecosystem support, the programme aims to empower a new generation of agripreneurs capable of reshaping the future of agriculture in Africa.
[give_form id="20698"]