The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to sustained investment in digital infrastructure, talent development, and regulatory reform.
The Lagos Commissioner for Innovation, Science & Technology, Olatunbosun Alake, stated this in his welcome address at the recent ICT Commissioners Roundtable during the just concluded GITEX in Lagos. “Lagos must lead by example so that states across the federation can adapt and scale what works,” he noted.
He also outlined the state’s recent programmes and reiterated its willingness to support inter-state exchange programmes and technical partnerships.
The ICT Commissioners Roundtable was 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 Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Salisu, 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 was dependent on synergy with education, health, and finance ministries, and flagged that new ICT bills were being developed in the National Assembly to strengthen legal and policy frameworks for innovation and cybersecurity.
He also emphasised the need for national coherence so that state efforts can integrate seamlessly into the national digital architecture.
Also, Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science & Technology, Dr Lawrence Ezeh, updated the roundtable on Enugu’s smart-schools and smart-city ambitions. He referenced the success of Enugu Tech Festival held earlier in the year as a vehicle for talent discovery and industry partnerships.
The Cross River State Commissioner for Science & Technology, Dr Justin Beshel, highlighted the state’s science and technology initiatives while reinforcing the need for linkages between state innovation programmes and private sector capacity.
Other states reported concrete steps toward operationalising local digital strategies. Participants agreed that formalised exchange programmes, joint projects, and routine peer reviews could help close those gaps and accelerate implementation across the federation.
The roundtable also recognised 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 that the forum’s mandate is to prioritise Nigerian state ownership and homegrown solutions.
Delegates also 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.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Jesulayomi Isaac
Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: Punch, 29.09.2025
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