Eko Farm Fair: Smallholder Farmers Seek Better Infrastructure, Fair Prices

Nigeria’s push to achieve food security received a major boost during the 2026 Eko World Food Day celebration which offered small scale farmers a rare opportunity to connect scale up their consumer reach.
Held under the theme: “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow,” the fair brought together farmers, agribusinesses, government officials, financial institutions, development partners, and thousands of shoppers from across Lagos.
LEADERSHIP which spoke to a number of exhibitors complained of hallenges especially lack of logistics to reach market destinations.
For entrepreneurs like Edeh Felicitas Ogochukwu who had a business idea and a passion for creating healthy food products, the event provided a great opportunity to connect with other stakeholders.
Her company, NurisWell, boasts NAFDAC-certified products, a growing customer base, and sales that extend beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Felicitas, who shared a journey that began in 2023 when she received a grant through the BATN Foundation’s Farmers for the Future (F4F) programme during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year said the fair provided an opportunity to showcase products, increase visibility, and explore new business opportunities.

Her story is one of many that highlight the impact of the Eko Farm Fair, an initiative organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems in partnership with the BATN Foundation to connect farmers and agripreneurs directly with consumers.
The same can be said for Kehinde Oyindamola, a smallholder crop farmer who displayed plantains, yams, tomatoes, and habanero peppers, for the purpose of identifying new market and making connections to support his sales and business scaling.
For many smallholder farmers, growing food is only part of the challenge.
Access to reliable markets, fair prices, and consistent buyers often determines whether a successful harvest translates into sustainable income.
By connecting producers directly with consumers, the Eko Farm Fair helps address these barriers while creating opportunities for lasting business relationships.
Since 2019, the partnership between the BATN Foundation and the Lagos State Government has supported more than 4,000 smallholder farmers, engaged over 10,000 shoppers, and facilitated millions of naira in income for participating farmers.
The Foundation’s participation in the fair reflects its broader commitment to strengthening livelihoods, supporting agribusiness growth, and improving market access for farmers and entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the event, Ruth Owojaiye, Board Director of the BATN Foundation, described the fair as more than a marketplace.
She noted that the Foundation has invested more than ₦5 billion in agricultural empowerment initiatives and reached over 1.9 million beneficiaries through interventions including training, agricultural input support, and improved access to water.
As shoppers left with fresh produce and entrepreneurs forged new connections, the 2026 Eko Farm Fair demonstrated that food security is not only about producing more food, but also about creating opportunities for those who grow and process it to thrive.

For Felicitas, Oyindamola, and thousands of others, the fair was a reminder that when farmers, entrepreneurs, consumers, and institutions come together, agriculture becomes more than a means of livelihood. It becomes a pathway to economic growth, opportunity, and a more resilient food system.