- UBA Chairman backs ‘Produce for Lagos’ scheme to tackle food insecurity, unemployment
Chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Tony Elumelu, has announced a N25 billion donation to support the Lagos State Government’s new agricultural programme, Produce for Lagos — a N500 billion initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity and creating jobs for the youth.
The pledge represents the single largest private sector commitment yet to the food production scheme, which seeks to enhance the state’s self-sufficiency in food supply.
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Speaking during the official launch of the programme in Lagos, Mr. Elumelu emphasised the urgent need to revamp the agricultural sector to address both hunger and rising unemployment.
“A hungry person is an angry person. We have a lot of unemployment in our country. Agriculture and the food system are key to addressing this issue,” he said.
He added that joblessness remains a serious deterrent for young Nigerians, stressing that Nigeria’s vast arable land should be harnessed to empower the population.
“They shouldn’t be idle—we have arable land that can be cultivated. So, all of us must work together to make this vision a reality. You’ve done your part, and private capital must now play its role,” Elumelu stated.
He commended Lagos State for consistently fostering an enabling environment for private sector collaboration.
“What you and your team are doing here, and what other governors are doing in their respective states, will collectively help tackle the problem of joblessness among our youth in the coming years,” he added.
Mr. Elumelu, who is also founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), confirmed that Heirs Holdings, Transcorp Group, and UBA would all actively participate in the implementation phase of the initiative.
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“From the first call, we knew this was something worth supporting. Lagos is home to all of us. During COVID-19, we were the first to donate N1 billion to the state. So, whatever Your Excellency wants us to do—as part of Better Back Africa—we are ready.”
The Produce for Lagos programme is a flagship food security project designed to reduce dependency on external food supply, lower prices of essential commodities, and drive agricultural industrialisation in Nigeria’s commercial hub.
