By Our Reporter
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday called for a deeper collaboration between the state government and the private sector in building a safer, smarter, greener megacity and a digital economy that creates jobs and prosperity.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, while speaking at ‘Art of Technology (AOT) Lagos 7.0,’ which took place at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, assuring that his administration remained committed to the investments and reforms necessary to keep Lagos at the forefront of global innovation.
According to the governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Lagos' emergence as the fastest-rising innovation city in the world as referenced by Dealroom.Co is a testament to the bold collaborative agenda between private and public stakeholders within the Lagos ecosystem, declaring pointedly that Lagos remained home, laboratory, launchpad into Africa and the world to investors, creators, academics, and global partners.
"To our founders, investors, creators, academics, and global partners: Lagos is your home, your laboratory, your testbed, your Launchpad into Africa and the world. We invite you to deepen your collaboration with us as we build: a safer, smarter, greener megacity and a city powered by data, intelligence, and sustainable infrastructure.
"This administration remains committed to the investments and reforms necessary to keep Lagos at the forefront of global innovation,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu revealed that the forthcoming Lagos Innovation Bill, now at an advanced stage, would institutionalize innovation as a core driver of the state’s socio-economic agenda, strengthen intellectual property protection, expand funding access, and deepen collaboration among government, academia, industry, and innovators.
The governor highlighted his administration’s deliberate and measurable investments in technology infrastructure over the last five years, including the deployment of over 2,500 kilometres of fibre-optic cables and smart city systems that had improved traffic management, public safety, and service delivery.
According to him, initiatives such as the Intelligent Transport System, the Safe City Surveillance Network, and the state’s expanding digital service portals are already enhancing efficiency, transparency, and security across Lagos, saying that more than one million residents had benefited from improved connectivity, contributing significantly to the growth of Lagos’ digital economy.
He further emphasized the state’s commitment to strengthening innovation through funding, talent development, and research, saying that almost ₦2 billion had through the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), been invested in startups and research programs across sectors such as fintech, health tech, agritech, and climate technology.
"Through the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), almost ₦2 billion has been invested in startups and research programs across sectors such as fintech, health tech, agritech, and climate technology,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu further noted that the establishment of the Lagos State Cybersecurity Council, which is Nigeria’s first sub-national cybersecurity body, was designed to safeguard the state’s digital infrastructure as Lagos accelerates into an era defined by AI, IoT, e-governance, and smart city systems.
"With continuous investments in infrastructure and enablement programs, the Lagos State Government seeks to increase the contribution of technology and innovation to the state’s GDP. We are strategically investing in future technologies that will shape a more sustainable and resilient city.
"These include artificial intelligence for predictive governance, Internet of Things solutions for water systems and environmental monitoring, smart mobility to reduce congestion, and digitization frameworks that will improve internal government operations," he stated.
The State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Tobosun Alake, earlier in his address, reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the State’s innovation ecosystem as it unveiled major advancements in digital infrastructure, startup development, research funding, and smart-city technology.
Alake announced that Lagos now accounts for 80 percent of Nigeria’s 2,000 active startups, which he said had attracted more than $6 billion in tech funding between 2019 and 2024, noting that the Lagos tech ecosystem, valued at $15.3 billion and had continued to expand through public-private collaboration and deliberate government investment.
He also announced the forthcoming Lagos Innovation Deal, a landmark framework that will institutionalize local innovation and strengthen collaboration between government, universities, and the private sector.
The commissioner emphasized the state government's commitment to building Africa’s most robust digital economy, deepening AI adoption, enhancing data protection, and positioning Lagos as a major global technology hub.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Founder, Eko Innovation Centre, Dr. Victor Gbenga, reiterated that the truth remained that the future belongs to urban centres that can harness technology to remain resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive as the world’s major cities navigate rapid population growth, climate pressures, and shifting economic landscapes.
"Today, more than half of the global population, over 4 billion people, live in urban areas. By 2050, nearly 70 percent of the world’s people are expected to be city dwellers. Cities already generate about 80 percent of global GDP while accounting for roughly 75 percent of global carbon emissions.
"These numbers underscore why the integration of future technologies is no longer optional for modern cities; it is essential,” he said.
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