The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stressed that Nigeria must shift from crude oil dependency and embrace agriculture as the real engine of diversification, job creation, and inclusive growth.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual Fair Symposium of the Agriculture and Allied Group in Lagos, LCCI President, Gabriel Idahosa, represented by Vice-President Abimbola Olashore, said agriculture must be repositioned as a wealth-creating, technology-driven, and globally competitive sector.
He noted that while agriculture contributes over 25% to Nigeria's GDP and employs 35% of the labour force, the sector remains under-optimized as the country still spends billions importing food.
"The 21st century is about data-driven farming, drones, blockchain in food supply chains, and agripreneurs attracting venture capital like tech startups," he said.
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Chairman of LCCI's Agric and Agro-Allied Group, Tunde Banjoko, added that the chamber is working to change perceptions of farming, making it an attractive, modern profession for young people. "Agriculture should be sexy — a career that fulfills aspirations while leveraging innovation and technology," he said.
The symposium themed "Agri-Business in the 21st Century: Changing the Narrative" highlighted the need to embrace digital agriculture, precision farming, and agro-value chain integration as Nigeria prepares for a population surge expected to exceed 400 million by 2050.
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