27/03/2026
ARCTIC INFRASTRUCTURE convened the Inception Workshop for the Communal Space for Urban Gardening Project on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 in Lagos, marking a critical step toward unlocking inclusive, community-led urban gardening solutions.
As the consulting partner to Heinrich Böll Foundation - Abuja Office, we brought together women’s groups from the Okerube, Amukoko, Bariga, and Oworonshoki communities to introduce and co-create pathways to improve access to communal spaces and strengthen urban food systems.
The workshop commenced with a project introduction and overview led by our colleague, Ahmed Abdulrahaman (Senior Project Associate - Cities and Climate, ARCTIC INFRASTRUCTURE), who highlighted the importance of the project, its key objectives, and the central role of women’s groups in driving its success.
An interactive Community Perspectives session followed, led by Soffiyah Sanni (Project Associate - Climate Finance, ARCTIC INFRASTRUCTURE) and Opeyemi Ajenifuja of Lagos Urban Development Initiative. The session explored participants’ interest in community gardening, existing practices, and key opportunities and concerns that will inform project implementation.
As part of the session, Ismaila Aro (Director, Project Management, Fabulous Urban Nigeria) shared a success story from the Oworo community, highlighting the impact of the “Precious Seed” women’s initiative. The story demonstrated how similar interventions can strengthen women’s economic empowerment by increasing income opportunities and improving household food security through local vegetable production.
We further acknowledge the valuable collaboration and support from Shantytown Empowerment Foundation (SHEF) and Lagos Urban Development Initiative during the inception workshop. We believe workshop sets the stage for a participatory and impactful project that advances inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development.
