In a move to cement Lagos State’s position as the innovation powerhouse of Nigeria and beyond, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST), convened a high-level stakeholder engagement forum at the Eko Innovation Centre, Ikoyi.
The event brought together key players from across sectors to deliberate on the proposed Lagos Innovation Policy Bill, a groundbreaking legislation that promises to catalyze innovation and foster an enabling environment for technological advancement.
The event, chaired by Mr. Olatubosun Alake, the commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, was an avenue for co-creation and collaboration, a move that has been variously been described as Lagos State Government’s commitment to an inclusive and participatory approach to policymaking.
Among the stakeholders present at the occasion are Adaora Ikenze – Director, Public Policy, Meta; Prof. Peter Bamkole – COO, Pan Atlantic University and LASRIC Member; Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho – founder, Futuresoft; LASRIC and Alex-Adedipe Adeleke – DOA Law, among others.
In his opening remarks, the honourable commissioner emphasized the important role of Lagos State in driving innovation investment in Nigeria and indeed, Africa, noting that approximately 70 to 80 percent of innovation funding flows into the state.
He stressed the urgency of establishing a robust policy framework that encourages continuous innovation investment and drives Lagos to the forefront of the digital revolution.
“This is because it can encourage or discourage continuous innovation investment in the state. Today’s engagement is in line with driving an innovation policy framework,” he said.
The commissioner also took his time to inundate all present with some of the initiatives of Ministry, as well as projects aimed at driving Lagos to the forefront of the digital revolution.
This includes the MetroFibre Project, a massive digital infrastructure undertaking that will deploy 3,000 kilometers of optic fiber and optic fiber ducts across the state.
He also highlighted the Safe City Project, which leverages intelligent video cameras to enhance security and create a safer environment for businesses to thrive.
Furthermore, the commissioner shed light on the ongoing construction of a state-of-the-art Tier 3 data center in partnership with the private sector, the digitization of government services to enhance efficiency and transparency, and the state’s unwavering commitment to cybersecurity through the establishment of a Cybersecurity Operations Center (CSOC) and capacity-building initiatives for local IT professionals.
Victor Afolabi, Chief Executive Officer of the Eko Innovation Centre, in his welcome address, emphasized the significance of the stakeholder engagement as a co-creation event, where collective deliberation would shape the regulatory incentives and create an inclusive innovation ecosystem.
He commended the commissioner’s vision and commitment to advancing innovation in Lagos State, describing the state as the innovation engine room of the country and a globally recognized hub for innovation.
The highly engaging and robust stakeholder engagement witnessed active participation from government agencies, the private sector, development agencies, and other key stakeholders.
The event featured five breakout sessions, where participants made actionable recommendations and proffered realistic solutions to contribute to the framework of the proposed Lagos Innovation Bill.
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