Stella Foluke Osafile, the Member representing Amuwo-Odofin Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, recently hosted the 9th edition of the annual constituency stakeholders’ meeting. The event, themed “Ensuring Food Security for a Sustainable Future: Youth Participation and Home-Grown Farming,” took place in Lagos, chaired by Honourable (Dr) Valentine Braimoh Oluwaseyi, Chairman of the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area.
In his opening remarks, Oluwaseyi praised Osafile for her effective representation and pledged his total support. He encouraged stakeholders to provide comprehensive feedback on the constituency’s needs, which would help Osafile advocate for their inclusion in the State’s 2025 budget.
Osafile expressed her gratitude for the significant turnout and highlighted that this was her first annual meeting as a representative. She assured attendees of her commitment to robustly represent the constituency in the coming years.
To combat food insufficiency, she shared her initiatives aimed at transforming Lagos into a food-producing state, emphasizing “Empowerment Through Urban Agriculture,” which has successfully engaged local youths in cultivating various vegetables and fruits.
She urged participants to utilize available spaces in their homes for hydroponic and vertical farming, promoting the adoption of innovative agricultural practices despite the area’s high density. Osafile also introduced a new sweet vegetable, steviol, which can be easily grown at home, and announced plans to collaborate with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan to train constituents in agricultural practices.
Dr. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, delivered a speech through Osafile, highlighting the assembly’s initiatives to boost agricultural productivity, such as the establishment of a 34-hectare fish farm estate in Ikorodu. He emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to food security, which includes availability, accessibility, affordability, and nutritional value.
The Speaker also referenced a recent initiative by Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, who launched the “Every Home a Garden Competition” and inaugurated the Young Farmers Club of Nigeria to foster interest in agriculture among the youth. These efforts aim to nurture a new generation equipped with modern farming techniques to achieve sustainable food self-sufficiency in line with the current administration’s food security campaign.
