Harvest of triumph: Lagos crowns Adaeze Nwankwo ‘Garden Queen’ with N2.5M reward
Adaeze received her reward from Dr. Sanwo-Olu and Mrs Hamzat
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
The air was electric at Lagos House, Ikeja, as Mrs Adaeze Nwankwo Glory from Epe Division emerged as the Lagos State champion of the ‘Every Home A Garden’ competition.
Her remarkable green-thumb skills earned her an enviable cash prize of N2.5 million, solidifying her reign as the state’s garden queen.
This competition, a flagship initiative under Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), is part of a visionary campaign to combat food insecurity by transforming homes into lush havens of fresh produce.
With women at the forefront, the programme seeks to empower households to embrace agriculture, one garden at a time.
Adaeze’s exceptional efforts did not go unnoticed. While Lagos missed the N20 million national prize, her standout performance at the national level brought in N1 million from the First Lady herself, coupled with N500,000 from the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADFUND).
In an extraordinary show of support, Lagos State First Lady Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu added a personal reward of N1 million, taking Adaeze’s total winnings to a dazzling N2.5 million.
But the rewards didn’t stop there. Dr Sanwo-Olu, radiating joy and pride, announced cash prizes of N500,000 each for the top gardeners representing Lagos’ other divisions—Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Badagry, and Ikeja. Even more, the 152 finalists were rewarded with N100,000 each, celebrating the collective effort of these home-grown heroes.
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“This initiative is more than a competition—it’s a movement,” Dr Sanwo-Olu declared.
“I urge all participants to nurture their gardens and make home gardening a sustainable lifestyle.” She also hinted at the programme’s potential return next year, pending approval from the Nigerian First Lady,” she added.
The ceremony brimmed with gratitude and inspiration. Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, wife of Lagos State’s Deputy Governor, described the initiative as a beacon of hope for achieving a “Greater Lagos.” She encouraged women to embrace smart farming as a means to strengthen agriculture and secure the nation’s food future.
Ayo Afuwape, Chairman of the Office of the First Lady’s Farmers Committee, revealed the meticulous selection process.
Judges evaluated gardens on crop variety, space management, pest control, community impact, and even social media advocacy. From over 1,000 applications, the final 250 participants proved they were ready to dig deep for success.
For participants like Morenike Iyabo of Ikeja Division, the competition was life-changing. “My home garden has been a blessing. I grow tomatoes, ewedu, and vegetables—all fresh and healthy. What I harvest is far better than anything I buy from the market,” she shared, her face aglow with pride.
As the curtains fell on the Lagos chapter of ‘Every Home A Garden,’ the message was clear: hope is sprouting across homes, one seed at a time. With empowered women leading the charge, the vision of a greener, self-sufficient Nigeria is blossoming beautifully.
