Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday added a personal touch to the 2025 Lagos Food Festival as he took part in a live cooking session and sampled a locally prepared seafood rice served with stir-fried spinach.
The annual festival, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, held at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, drew residents from across the state who turned out to enjoy a blend of cuisine, music and cultural displays.
This year’s edition carried the theme “Taste Beyond Borders”, reflecting Lagos’ diverse culinary heritage and global outlook.
Addressing participants at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that the food festival was designed to bring families together in a relaxed atmosphere while showcasing the rich variety of food cultures that define Lagos.
According to him, food remains a powerful way of telling the story of the state’s diversity and creativity.
The governor noted that over the past six years, the state government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, had consistently supported entrepreneurs within the food value chain.
He said the festival also served as a platform to promote innovation, create visibility for small businesses and encourage growth in the catering and hospitality sectors.
Sanwo-Olu explained that beyond entertainment, the ministry had implemented several initiatives aimed at strengthening agriculture and food security in the state, while empowering individuals to build sustainable livelihoods within the sector.
He added that the festival provided an opportunity for residents to experience different cuisines in one place, interact with food innovators and enjoy quality time with family and friends.
He also shared his excitement at preparing his own dish during the cooking demonstration and tasting the outcome.
In addition to the culinary activities, the governor visited an art exhibition within the festival grounds, where about 40 artists showcased paintings created live on designated walls.
He described the artworks as vivid expressions of Lagos’ energy, resilience and creativity.
Sanwo-Olu said the state government remained committed to supporting talents across various sectors, stressing the need to encourage diverse skills and professions to ensure Lagos continues to thrive as a safe and inclusive home for all.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said the festival was a celebration of Lagos’ multicultural identity.
She explained that the government considered it important to spotlight not only the state’s food diversity but also the contributions of actors across the entire food value chain.
She added that the Lagos Food Festival had grown into a major platform for promoting local enterprise, cultural exchange and community bonding, while reinforcing the state’s position as Nigeria’s culinary capital.
