Lagos State played host for the convergence of innovation and ICT leaders recently, when Commissioners for Innovation, Science and Technology and senior state delegates gathered during GITEX in Lagos for the ICT Commissioners Roundtable.
Conceived as a national platform to align sub-national digital priorities with federal strategy, strengthen inter-state collaboration and accelerate the drive toward a digital economy that is inclusive and locally-led, the roundtable boasts attendance from key stakeholders across states in the country.
Attendees include Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cybersecurity; Hon. Olatunbosun (Tunbosun) Alake, Honourable Commissioner for Innovation, Science & Technology, Lagos State; Engr. (Mrs.) Ibilola Kasunmu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology (MIST); Dr. (Prince) Lawrence Ezeh, Commissioner for Innovation, Science & Technology, Enugu State; and Dr. Justin Atiang Beshel, Commissioner for Science & Technology, Cross River State. Also present were head of ICT agencies from Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Yobe, Nassarawa, Ogun, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Zamfara and Ondo States, alongside a delegate from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
The Lagos Commissioner for Innovation, Science & Technology, Hon. Olatunbosun Alake, set the tone for Lagos’s role as host, in his welcome address. He highlighted Lagos’s sustained investment in digital infrastructure, talent development and regulatory reform, saying Lagos must lead by example so that states across the federation can adapt and scale what works. He also outlined the state’s recent programmes and reiterated its willingness to support inter-state exchange programmes and technical partnerships.
In his closing address, Senator Shuaib advised participants to link ICT initiatives closely to each state’s broader development priorities to ensure political buy-in and sustainable funding. He called for stronger cross-ministry collaboration, pointing out that the success of ICT initiatives is often dependent on synergy with education, health and finance ministries, and flagged that new ICT bills are being developed in the National Assembly to strengthen legal and policy frameworks for innovation and cybersecurity. He also emphasized the need for national coherence so that state efforts can integrate seamlessly into the national digital architecture.
Also speaking at the occasion, Enugu’s Commissioner, Dr. Ezeh, updated the roundtable about Enugu’s smart-schools and smart-city ambitions and referenced the success of Enugu Tech Festival held earlier in the year as a vehicle for talent discovery and industry partnerships. Cross River’s Dr. Justin gave an update on that state’s science & technology initiatives while reinforcing the need for linkages between state innovation programmes and private sector capacity.
Other states reported concrete steps toward operationalizing local digital strategies: Ondo State said it is developing a comprehensive ICT policy and reviewing its digital identity framework; Jigawa highlighted the establishment of the Jigawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency (JISITDEA) and work to revive its Galaxy Backbone connection; Zamfara announced the launch of a state Digital Literacy Framework in July 2025; and several states referenced the creation of dedicated Information Technology Development Agencies to steward local digital programmes.
While states are clearly moving forward, the roundtable surfaced recurring obstacles. Delegates cited insufficient inter-state collaboration and limited alignment with federal priorities as barriers to scaling successful programmes. Funding gaps, bureaucratic delays and the challenge of recruiting and retaining skilled digital talent were consistently raised. Participants agreed that formalized exchange programmes, joint projects and routine peer reviews could help close those gaps and accelerate implementation across the federation.
The roundtable also recognized the private sector and development partners as important enablers. While international tech firms were invited to share insights, particularly around opportunities in open-source AI and developer ecosystems, the commissioners were clear the forum’s mandate is to priorities Nigerian state ownership and homegrown solutions.
By the meeting’s close, delegates agreed on immediate next steps which include the establishment of a working group to map existing state ICT assets; design a calendar of inter-state working visits and technical exchanges; and draft a memorandum of understanding template to facilitate joint projects. The aim is to institutionalize the Commissioners Roundtable so it becomes a recurring instrument for policy alignment, shared procurement where feasible, talent exchange and coordinated infrastructure investments.