The Lagos State Government has honoured the BATN Foundation for its investment in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation and food security for over two decades.
According to a statement, BATN Foundation received recognition at the grand finale of the 2025 Eko World Food Day held at the Police College, Ikeja, where the state recognised the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to empowering farmers and strengthening food systems through public-private partnerships.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, commended the BATN Foundation for its “unwavering commitment to advancing innovation and deepening resilience in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.”
“Feeding a megacity like Lagos requires innovation, bold investments, and robust partnerships,” the governor said. “Our administration remains committed to ensuring food sufficiency despite our geographical constraints.
We recognise that partnerships such as this are crucial to achieving that goal.”
This year’s Eko World Food Day, themed “Hand in Hand, For Better Food and a Better Future,” aligned with the United Nations’ annual World Food Day celebration coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation to promote collaboration toward sustainable food systems.
At the event, the BATN Foundation donated 60 modern smoking kilns and 40 foldable fish ponds to trained smallholder farmers under its Fingerlings to Fork project, executed in partnership with the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority. The equipment aims to enhance food processing quality, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote climate-smart practices.
Board Director of the BATN Foundation, Yarub Al-Bahrani, said the Foundation’s impact extends far beyond Lagos.
“Over the past two decades, we have directly impacted more than 300,000 farmers and reached over 1.7 million beneficiaries, including women and youth, across all 36 states and the FCT,” he said. “Food security cannot be achieved in isolation; it requires all of us working hand in hand toward a better future.”
Also speaking, Board Director of the BATN Foundation, Odiri Erewa-Meggison, said the Foundation’s programmes embody this year’s global theme by promoting collaboration and equipping farmers with practical tools.
“The Eko World Food Day exemplifies how purposeful partnerships can drive progress. Our contribution represents our ongoing commitment to building climate-resilient and commercially viable agribusinesses,” she said.
The fair, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, featured a vibrant marketplace where smallholder farmers supported by the state and the Foundation sold freshly harvested produce directly to consumers at affordable prices, bridging farm-to-market gaps and stimulating local economies.
The event drew dignitaries, including Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Yarub Al-Bahrani, Odiri Erewa-Meggison, and Umair Luqman, all Board Directors of the BATN Foundation. Representatives from Stanbic IBTC Bank, government officials, smallholder farmers, and development partners also attended.
The firm noted that since its establishment in 2002, it has implemented more than 350 community development projects nationwide, focusing on sustainable agriculture, rural enterprise, and youth inclusion.
It added that its partnerships with state governments and development agencies continue to demonstrate how private-sector innovation can drive food security and support global goals such as Zero Hunger (SDG 2) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
