Themed “Future Technologies & a Sustainable Lagos,” the conference reinforced AOT’s growing reputation as Lagos’ most influential platform for shaping policy-driven innovation, digital transformation, and long-term economic resilience.

Participants engaged in forward-looking discussions on artificial intelligence, smart infrastructure, digital governance, climate technologies, and inclusive innovation.

In his welcome address, Dr. Victor Gbenga Afolabi, Founder of Eko Innovation Centre and curator of Art of Technology Lagos, stressed that cities must adopt future-forward technologies to stay resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive.

He noted that cities produce 80% of global GDP yet account for 75% of carbon emissions, making technological integration essential for survival.

Delivering the keynote, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Deputy Governor, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to building a safer, smarter, and greener megacity through technology, strong public-private partnerships, and sustainable infrastructure.

He highlighted key achievements, including the deployment of 2,500km of fibre-optic cables, smart traffic upgrades, expanded digital public services, and improved connectivity for over one million residents.

He also disclosed that LASRIC has invested nearly ₦2 billion in more than 75 startups across multiple sectors.

Dr. Hamzat announced the forthcoming Lagos Innovation Bill, which will strengthen IP protection, funding access, and cross-sector collaboration, alongside the creation of Nigeria’s first sub-national Cybersecurity Council.

Mr. Olatunbosun Alake, the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, also noted Lagos’ rise as Africa’s top tech ecosystem, attracting over $6 billion in startup funding between 2019 and 2024, representing nearly 80% of Nigeria’s 2,000 active startups. He further revealed the upcoming Lagos Innovation Deal, a major framework that will deepen collaboration among government, academia, and industry while accelerating AI adoption, strengthening data protection, and positioning Lagos as a global technology hub.

This year’s edition attracted an impressive lineup of global and regional thought leaders, including Sara Sabry, CEO of Deep Space Initiative and the first Egyptian and African Arab woman in space; Dr. Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency; Seyi Akindeinde, Founder of Hyperspace Technologies Ltd, Lars Christer Johannisson, Chief Executive Officer, Rack Centre; Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive, African data Center; Tomi Davies, Collaboration in Chief, TVC Labs, Kola Masha, Founder, Babban Gona; Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, Chairman, Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council; Engr. (Mrs.) Ibilola Kasunmu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Lagos State among many others.

The conference featured high-level keynotes, panel sessions, exhibitions, and networking engagements, creating a powerful policy–innovation interface around inclusive development and sustainable economic growth.

Tech Ecosystem Awards 2025 Celebrate Nigeria’s Innovation Trailblazers

A major highlight of AOT Lagos 7.0 was the 4th Edition of the Tech Ecosystem Awards, held at 6:30 PM, celebrating individuals, startups, and organizations revolutionizing Nigeria’s technology landscape through creativity, sustainability, and innovation.

The ceremony drew a distinguished audience of industry leaders and government stakeholders, with Mr. Olatunbosun Alake, the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, in attendance. The event officially opened with a welcome address by Dr. Victor Gbenga Afolabi, who reiterated AOT’s commitment to recognizing excellence at the intersection of technology, business, and social impact.

2025 Tech Ecosystem Award Winners

• Women in Tech Award – Ada Nduka Oyom
• Technology Personality of the Year – Odunayo Eweniyi
• Tech Journalist of the Year – Frank Eleanya
• Sustainable Mobility Award – Maxdrive.ai
• Startup of the Year – Chowdeck
• Social Innovation Award – BudgIT
• Social Transformation Leadership Award – inDrive
• Local Investor of the Year – Oui Capital
• Inclusive Tech Award – Mamamoni
• FoodTech Startup of the Year – Foodstuff Store
• CleanTech Innovation Award – Creeds Energy
• Best Customer Service Startup Award – Bumpa
• AI & Robotics Excellence Award – CDIAL AI

The awards reaffirmed AOT Lagos’ role in spotlighting innovation that drives economic transformation, sustainability, and inclusive growth across Nigeria.

Art of Technology Lagos is an annual flagship platform that brings together government, industry, startups, investors, and global partners to shape the future of innovation, policy, and sustainable development in Lagos and beyond.

He made this known today, Thursday, December 4, at the ongoing Art of Technology Lagos 7.0, holding at the Landmark Event Centre.

Themed “Future Technologies & a Sustainable Lagos”, AOT Lagos 7.0 marks seven years of bringing together the city’s full innovation ecosystem, including founders, developers, entrepreneurs, financiers, academia, and policy-makers. 

Over those years the state has built a solid and broad infrastructure. “We are the de facto IT department for Lagos State,” Alake said, “managing connectivity, data centres, ERP systems, smart-city implementation, and driving public-service digitisation through government.”

Among the State’s achievements he disclosed that between 2019 and 2024, Lagos-based tech startups attracted over $6 billion in funding, representing more than 70% of Nigeria’s total tech investment inflows. 

Alake said that today the ecosystem is roughly valued at $15.3 billion, with Lagos accounting for 80–90% of the country’s startups, making it “the largest startup concentration on the continent.”

He explained how the state government is supporting this boom. Through Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), more than 75 startups have been funded, and over 85 research and development initiatives across four to five major universities are currently supported. 

Some of these initiatives have already produced commendable results, including research patents and spin-off companies in areas like climate resilience, green energy, agritech and construction tech.

In addressing infrastructure, Alake disclosed that Lagos now has about 15,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cables, having expanded connectivity by roughly 500 km per year on average. 

This fibre backbone supports public schools, hospitals, government buildings and businesses, a foundation for a truly digital Lagos.

On the public-service side, Alake pointed to the success of the Lagos State Digital Service Portal, launched at last year’s AOT. The portal has recorded over 50,000 unique visitors in the past 60 days alone, enabling citizens to file taxes, apply for planning permits or digital identity, and access other government services online. 

He said work is underway to enhance the portal into a unified gateway for all citizen and business services.

At AOT 7.0, Alake also announced the forthcoming Lagos Innovation Bill, a legal and regulatory framework designed to embed innovation in the state’s economic DNA. 

Once passed, the Bill will, among other things, require large companies in sectors such as telecoms, energy and infrastructure to collaborate with universities and research institutions when seeking solutions. 

For example, building local capacity to design base stations rather than importing equipment.

By 2030, Lagos plans to increase the contribution of IT and innovation to the state economy by 100%, and stimulate a 50% rise in scientific research and invention directed at solving Lagos-specific challenges. 

Alake said, “If you have a technical problem, Lagos is the place to solve it,” stressing that this vision requires “coordination, collaboration, and all of us, working hard, putting aside differences, and moving on shared vision.” 

He called on everyone in the ecosystem, including the government, private sector, academia, investors, and citizens, to contribute.

The ultimate goal is to make innovation a permanent feature of Lagos’ economic and social life.

The event, scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2025, at the Landmark Centre, brings together policymakers, innovators, tech founders, investors, and global industry leaders to shape the future of technology and digital transformation in Lagos.

Speaking on the partnership, Timothy Oladimeji, country representative of inDrive Nigeria, said the company’s sponsorship underscores its deep commitment to advancing equitable mobility systems and supporting conversations that drive long-term impact across the transportation ecosystem.

Oladimeji noted that inDrive sees AOT Lagos as a critical platform for addressing mobility challenges and accelerating innovation within the state.

During the event, inDrive will be participating in one of the key sessions, discussing the topic ‘From fuel to future: the rise of e-mobility in Lagos’. Aside from this, inDrive will also be hosting a side workshop themed: ‘The Market Share Victory – How inDrive Became Nigeria’s Second-Largest Ride-Hailing Player’.

“We are proud to sponsor AOT Lagos 7.0 because it aligns perfectly with our vision to democratise mobility and ensure fairness for both drivers and riders. As Lagos moves toward a smarter, more sustainable mobility future, inDrive is committed to supporting solutions that prioritise affordability, safety, driver empowerment, and technological readiness. Through this partnership, we hope to contribute meaningfully to shaping policies and ideas that will redefine how millions of people move across the state,” he said.

Now in its seventh edition, AOT Lagos has evolved into a premier platform for advancing smart-city innovation, showcasing emerging technologies, and influencing the policy frameworks that shape the digital economy in Africa’s largest city.

Through this partnership, inDrive aims to contribute to high-level conversations on driver empowerment, sustainable transport models, safety, and affordability, key challenges affecting millions of daily commuters and mobility service providers in the state.

Scheduled for Thursday, December 4th, 2025, this premier event is organized by the Eko Innovation Centre in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology.

This year’s theme, “Future Technologies & Sustainable Lagos,” will explore the transformative potential of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, IoT, smart infrastructure, and clean energy solutions in shaping a sustainable, futuristic megacity. The conference aims to go beyond ideas, emphasizing policy frameworks, real-world applications, and strategic collaborations that will develop and define Lagos.

This conference convenes key stakeholders across the tech ecosystem: policymakers, government representatives, venture capitalists, startups, and tech talent to shape policies aimed at advancing the development of an Innovative Lagos.

Through insightful discussions and strategic engagements, AOT Lagos contributes to policy development, drives innovation

outcomes, and supports the city’s evolution into a technological hub in Africa.

Participants can expect engaging sessions featuring panel discussions, workshops, networking opportunities, and exhibitions. Notable highlights include:

• High-Level Keynotes and Panels: Government officials, global thought leaders, policymakers, and industry executives will dissect pressing issues and present transformative tech solutions.
• Workshops & Breakout Sessions: The conference will host practical sessions on policy frameworks, tech-enabled infrastructure, smart governance, digital inclusion, and urban sustainability.
• AOT Ecosystem Awards (4th Edition): Celebrating outstanding startups, ecosystem enablers, and policymakers that have made significant contributions to Nigeria’s tech growth.
• Career Pavilion: An opportunity for emerging talents to connect with hiring organizations and recruitment experts.
• Innovator Exhibitions: Showcasing cutting-edge products and services from local and international tech startups.
• Collaborate Lagos Pitch: A platform where innovators present real solutions to real urban challenges before a panel of investors, partners, and policymakers.

AOT Lagos 7.0 is more than an event; it’s a movement toward a smarter, sustainable, and tech- driven Lagos. The conference offers unmatched opportunities to:

• Connect with investors, policymakers, and global leaders in the tech space
• Explore actionable strategies for adopting emerging technologies
• Participate in forward-thinking conversations that shape public policy and city innovation

As Lagos accelerates toward becoming a fully digitized smart megacity, AOT Lagos continues to be the nucleus of collaboration, innovation, and growth.

Join us on December 4th at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, for a day dedicated to redefining the future of innovation in Africa’s most vibrant tech hub.

For more information and registration, visit www.aotlagos.com.