In a major push to institutionalize innovation governance in Nigeria’s commercial capital, the Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST) has held another strategic stakeholder engagement session on the Lagos Innovation Bill.
The session, which took place at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, was attended by a cross-section of critical stakeholders from the technology and innovation ecosystem.
The event marked a continuation of a broader series of engagements that the Ministry has hosted over time to co-create the Innovation Bill, which seeks to provide a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework to power the development of science, technology, and innovation in Lagos.
At this latest session, the Ministry presented a refined draft of the bill to key actors across the ecosystem, opening the floor for dialogue, critique, and suggestions as part of an inclusive process to ensure the bill is not only fit for purpose but also owned by the community it intends to serve.
Mr. Olatunbosun Alake, the commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, who delivered the keynote presentation, provided both historical and philosophical context to the bill.
Citing global case studies—including the evolution of Silicon Valley—he explained that Lagos must adopt a structured, intentional approach to innovation that moves beyond pilot projects and scattered initiatives.
“If we are serious about building an innovation economy, then we must create systems that allow ideas to become inventions, inventions to become startups, and startups to scale into global businesses. That pipeline must be enabled by law,” Alake stated.
He added that following up on the Nigerian startup Act, The Lagos Innovation bill seeks to additionally cover the full spectrum of the innovation pipeline, including the universities , industries etc.
“This bill goes beyond startups,” Alake explained. “It covers knowledge institutions, research and development, digital infrastructure, innovation funding, and the legal frameworks to protect ideas and attract investment. It is our attempt to design a Lagos-specific framework that can scale innovation and institutionalize progress.”
Alake also stressed that the proposed law is designed to catalyze inclusive growth by ensuring that innovation is not limited to elite enclaves or big tech companies but reaches students, grassroots innovators, and underserved communities.
“If innovation is to be meaningful, it must be democratized,” he said. “That means providing access, funding, training, and regulatory support to everyone—from the university researcher in Epe to the agritech startup in Ikorodu. That’s what this bill aims to do.”
Earlier, while welcoming participants to the session, Engr. Mrs. Ibilola Kasunmu, permanent secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, emphasized the government’s commitment to participatory policy development and urged stakeholders to provide specific, actionable input:
“This session is not just about telling you what the bill says. It is about asking you: does this work for your context? Will this structure enable innovation, or will it stifle it?”
She said:
“We believe policy must be driven by those who live in the ecosystem. You are the people who understand the bottlenecks, the regulatory frictions, and the investment gaps. That’s why we are here—not just to talk, but to listen, learn, and improve.”
Mrs. Kasunmu noted that the Lagos Innovation Bill is envisioned as a foundational law that will support the state’s ambition to become Africa’s undisputed innovation capital, complementing the Nigeria Startup Act at the federal level while addressing the specific dynamics and needs of Lagos’ fast-evolving tech and knowledge economy.
Delivering a goodwill message, Joel Ogunshola, a respected ecosystem leader and founder of Tech for Tech, praised the Ministry for its sustained engagement on the bill and described the initiative as “visionary and timely.”
“What Lagos is trying to do with this bill is not to reinvent the wheel,” Ogunshola said. “Rather, it is to customize the wheel so that it actually works on our roads. This is not just a tech bill; it is an economic growth framework. It’s about unlocking prosperity, innovation, and talent at a scale we’ve never seen before.”
He highlighted the limitations of national policies that often fail to reflect local realities and argued that sub-national legislation is essential to bridge the gap between ambition and execution. Ogunshola added that the bill presents a critical opportunity to enshrine legal protections and incentives that support not just startups, but also researchers, capital providers, and innovation enablers.
Following the commissioner’s keynote, legal practitioner and adviser to the Ministry, Mr. Alex Adedipe, took stakeholders through the key sections of the draft bill.
The engagement then transitioned into breakout sessions, with attendees divided into clusters. Each group analyzed relevant sections of the bill and submitted feedback, which was collated and presented during the plenary.
Closing the session, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Broadband and Technology, Engr. Ganiyu Oseni, expressed the State Government’s appreciation for the active participation and high-quality feedback received from the session.
He reiterated the State Government’s commitment to ensuring that the final draft of the bill reflects the collective wisdom of the ecosystem and assured stakeholders that more engagements will follow as the bill moves closer to legislative approval.
