Speaking at the Zenith Bank Tech Fair – Future Forward 5.0 (#ZBTechFair2025), held at the Eko Hotels & Suites on Thursday, November 20, 2025, the Governor said:

“A lot of these young people will not know that this Tech thing started with you (Jim Ovia) over 10 to 15 years ago, right at the Civic Center when you come and give us all the deliveries.”

“You know, at that time when nobody knew about Technology in Banking, you pioneered everything, and we’re thankful that you are still here to continue to support the bank”.

The Governor also hailed Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, the Zenith Bank GMD/CEO, and the Group’s Board for giving life-changing opportunities to the Nigerian youths through the lender’s Tech Fair Hackathons competition that was held during the event.

Speaking further at the #ZBTechFair2025 event, Mr. Sanwo-Olu lauded innovative ideas that were showcased at the event, saying that;

“What I see happening here every year is things that we, even in leadership positions, need to connect with. This is an activation that can bring life and real conversation to the young, dynamic, innovative, creative young people that we have in this country.”

“I get thrilled when each of those pitches came forward and the MD was asking me who I go for. I said all of them. From the guy who was teaching us the tutorials in the University to the young lady who was talking about the menstrual sanitary pad and all the innovative ideas”.

The Lagos State Governor called for more collaborations with brands as he said that his administration has been supportive of such innovative ideas and will continue to partner with like-minded individuals in order to continually create a more sustainable environment for economic growth and development.

Mr. Governor also revealed that his administration plans to train 50,000 Tech Enthusiasts and that the Lagos State Government plans to make the State the next Global Tech Silicon Valley.

“I want to give you the commitment that for us as a government, we’re doing it, we have to do it at scale. We have a plan to be able to train about 50,000 Tech Experts.

We want to be able to pay for their tuition, want to be able to take them to the next level, 50,000 all at once, and it’s going to cost us Billions of Naira to be able to do it”, he further added.

In concluding his speech, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Sanwo-Olu, hinted that part of the State’s Vision 2050 plans is to make Lagos State the World’s Human Capital Center, saying,

“Part of our vision is that by 2050, we want to make Lagos the Human Capital Center of the World, with these young people, where Microsoft will think of raising a Million Tech Experts, they will think of Lagos.

Google and all of them will think of 500,000 Tech Experts, will look for new innovators, and the first place they will think of is Nigeria, and it’s Lagos that’s the kind of vision we want to create, that’s the kind of opportunity we want to leave behind .”

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Zenith Bank Tech Fair 2025 – Future Forward 5.0, Umeoji said technology is reshaping every sector, from banking and healthcare to mobility, education and everyday life, at a pace “faster than humanity has ever experienced.”

Umeoji attributed Zenith Bank’s own evolution to the vision of its founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, whom she described as “an innovator extraordinaire, a game changer and the godfather of modern banking.”

She highlighted his early investments in banking technology, such as deploying satellite dishes for real-time connectivity in the 1990s, pioneering Internet banking as early as 2004, and establishing the first ATM gallery in Nigeria.

“These milestones positioned Zenith Bank as Nigeria’s technology trailblazer long before digital banking became mainstream,” she said.

The CEO warned of emerging risks alongside opportunities, citing her own experience with a recent deepfake impersonation.

She also referenced a global case where cybercriminals used AI voice-cloning to steal $25 million from a Hong Kong firm.

“AI is powerful, but also dangerous. We must build cyber-awareness, protect our personal data and develop innovations that secure, not endanger, our future,” she said.

“Technology is the future, and the time to innovate, adapt and accelerate is now,” she said.