The Lagos State Government (LASG) through the Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC) has launched a ₦250 million seed fund aimed at making the state a hub for innovation and technology.
LASRIC which is responsible for boosting innovation and technology in the state has a 16-man team headed by the vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said: “For us, it is to put the action in what we believe in.
“When you make pronouncements as a government, you must put them to action. I don’t want very stringent conditions that will not make people benefit from this fund.
“In the next six months, let us begin to see a litmus test that people have been supported through this fund.
“We can’t do it alone, ours is just a seed fund. Some of you have access to international donors and partners that will want to see the level of our seriousness and commitment; I want us to put in serious effort so that others will be willing to support us.
“We need innovative solutions. We can think global but we have to act local. Let us think about solutions that are peculiar to us as Lagosians and Nigerians and you will be amazed that we have great skills that lack people to bring them out.”
Chairman of the council, Toyin Ogundipe, noted that the institution would partner with several non-governmental organisations for the benefit of Lagos State.
“Any country that is doing well, there is research backing it up. What we are doing today is to refocus concerning Lagos State. What we have done is around the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda that the governor has for Lagos State for the pronouncement to be very clear. We are going to make sure that we promote STEM in the primary and secondary school level for a start.
“We want to get the database of all researchers in Lagos, not only in higher institutions but in companies and other organizations in Lagos. We are going to have a multi-disciplinary research collaboration between the institution and the companies and it will attend to the needs of Lagos State,” said Ogundipe.
The Lagos tech ecosystem has grown over the decades to become one of the leading hubs for technology and innovation in Africa.
A significant number of startups have made Lagos their home and used the centre of excellence as a springboard to expand their presence across the continent. Examples are Kobo360, Carbon, Piggybank and Farmcrowdy among others.
