The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday at the Eko Innovation Centre, assured that going by the technology revolution across the world, Lagos State would soon turn into a smart city.
The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, stated this while making a remark at a forum titled ‘An Evening of Conversation on Moral Leadership.’ organized by Eko Innovation Centre, Acumen and African Venture Philanthropy Alliance.
According to the Governor, with a smart state, Lagos will be able to response to crime easily and have a seamless government process. To achieve this, he disclosed that the state will embark on a massive construction of innovation and technology centres across the state, where trained people will help the state with innovative ideas that can help solve local challenges.
“Our plan is to have a city that is smart. This is already in the pipeline as collaboration with the private sector to have these plans implemented is in top gear,” he disclosed.
L-r: Executive Director, West Africa Region, African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (avpa); Founder, Eko Innovation Centre, Victor Afolabi; CEO, Acumen, Jacqueline Novogratz; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Hamzat Obafemi, and other special guests at the Forum…held on Sunday
He admitted that Lagos State does not have land, and so the state must explore technology and innovations in tackling challenges in Agriculture, environment, education, transportation and health.
He added that Lagos State recognizes that technology is the key driver of all growing economies across the world. Which, according to him is the essence of building the innovation and technology centres, where private capital and investors can invest in young Lagosians and ultimately, create more jobs for the youths.
Meanwhile, the Co-Founder of Eko Innovation Centre, Mr. Victor Afolabi, has admitted that lack of capital is always an issue with entrepreneurs, as it limits their capability to develop innovative technologies that can solve the problems in the country.
Thus, the idea behind the Eko Innovation Centre, which is to transform the technology and innovation landscape in Lagos, having keyed into the present government agenda to make the state a 21st century economy.
While urging the state government to support and create the enabling environment for start-ups to thrive, Afolabi argued that the only way to create a 21st century economy is to make sure you are creating the enabling environment for businesses and solution to problems that are driven by innovation and technology.