Lagos State Governor reveals plan to build innovation, technology centres 

The Lagos State Government has revealed plans to build innovation and technology centers across the state to combat the problem of youth unemployment.

The state’s governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu who made this known at an event organized by the Eko Innovation Centre in Lagos acknowledged the place of technology as an important driver to fast-growing economies.

Quoting him:

“Technology is the way to go. It is the way of the future and our administration is committed to leveraging on technology in delivering the megacity dream.

“As a government, we will build innovation and technology centers where we can bring in private capital and investors, get ideas from young people on technology and be able to start creating employment for our youths. “We also believe that to achieve the THEME concept that has to do with the environment, education, transportation and health, innovations and technology is key.

“People from those centers would come and give us innovative ideas to solve our transport problem; ideas with which they think locally.”

Also speaking, the Founder of the Eko Innovation Centre, Mr. Victor Afolabi said the aim of the initiative was to transform the technology and innovation landscape in Nigeria and by extension, Africa.

While pointing out that the scarcity of capital was restricting the capabilities of entrepreneurs to develop innovative technologies in order to solve the problems in the country, He encouraged the state government to support and create the enabling environment for start-ups to thrive.