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Thousands of shoppers, farmers and agribusiness operators gathered in Lagos for the 2026 Eko Farm Fair, where farmers showcased their produce, attracted new customers and explored opportunities to grow their businesses.
The fair, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems in partnership with the BATN Foundation, provided a platform for farmers and food processors to sell directly to consumers, promote their products and establish new business relationships.
Held at the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, as part of the 2026 Eko World Food Day celebration, the event attracted farmers, food business owners, financial institutions, government officials, development partners and shoppers.
It was held under the theme, “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow.” Beyond displaying and selling food products, the fair addressed one of the major challenges facing smallholder farmers and emerging agribusinesses: finding reliable buyers and getting good prices for their produce.
One of the exhibitors, Edeh Felicitas Ogochukwu, founder of NurisWell, a food processing business, said the platform offered her another opportunity to promote her products, attract customers and expand her market. Ogochukwu traced the growth of her business to 2023, when she received a grant from the BATN Foundation through its Farmers for the Future (F4F) programme during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year.
The grant helped her turn her interest in producing healthy food into a business. Three years later, NurisWell has secured NAFDAC certification for its products, built a growing customer base and expanded sales beyond Nigeria.
Another beneficiary, smallholder farmer Kehinde Oyindamola, displayed plantains, yams, tomatoes and habanero peppers, hoping to attract more buyers and establish lasting business connections.
For farmers like Oyindamola, direct access to consumers can improve earnings by reducing dependence on middlemen and creating opportunities to negotiate better prices.
Many small-scale farmers struggle to sell their produce at profitable prices because of poor access to organised markets and dependable buyers. Platforms such as the Eko Farm Fair help bridge this gap by bringing producers closer to consumers.
The partnership between the BATN Foundation and the Lagos State Government has, since 2019, supported more than 4,000 smallholder farmers, attracted over 10,000 shoppers and generated millions of naira in income for participating farmers.
Speaking at the event, Board Director of the BATN Foundation, Ruth Owojaiye, said the fair was more than a marketplace, describing it as an avenue for improving livelihoods and helping agricultural businesses grow.
She disclosed that the Foundation had invested more than ₦5 billion in agricultural empowerment programmes and reached over 1.9 million beneficiaries through various interventions.
These include training, support with farming inputs and improved access to water.
Owojaiye said the investments reflected the Foundation’s commitment to developing agriculture and improving the economic well-being of farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs.
In Lagos, where the demand for food creates a huge market, connecting farmers directly with consumers can also strengthen local food supply, support small businesses and help more people earn from agriculture.
The fair reinforced the need to complement increased food production with access to markets, reliable buyers and business partnerships.
For emerging businesses such as NurisWell and smallholder farmers like Oyindamola, the opportunity to reach thousands of potential customers could make a significant difference to their growth and earnings.
The event demonstrated that improving agriculture goes beyond providing seeds, fertiliser and other farming inputs. Farmers must also be able to sell what they produce at fair prices and earn enough to sustain and expand their businesses.
