The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stated that he is dedicated to the expansion of the technology industry in Africa because he is a staunch believer in the huge and untapped potential that Africa holds in the domains of technology and digital innovation.
According to him, the acceleration of the African continent towards becoming the new Silicon Valley is a communal endeavour that involves the continuing participation of governments, the corporate sector, academia, and civil society. This is a requirement that must be met in order for this to occur.
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What Lagos State Government discussed with GITEX
Speaking on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023, at the GITEX One Africa Digital Summit in Marrakech, Morocco, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that the focus of his administration on fostering an enabling environment for startups and tech companies to flourish is yielding results that have never been seen before, including the creation of jobs, the acceleration of economic growth, and the provision of solutions to societal issues.
The Governor also stated that the story of Lagos is a testament to the collaborative efforts of both the public and private sectors in fostering development.
“The remarkable rise of Yaba, a bustling metropolitan area in Lagos and home to the highest concentration of start-ups in Nigeria, owes its success to a well-coordinated public-private partnership,” he noted.
He added, “I stand before you today not just as the Governor of Lagos State, a sub-sovereign state within Nigeria with a population of over 20 million people, but as an ardent believer in the vast and untapped potential that Africa holds within the realms of technology and digital innovation.”
As the Governor of Lagos State, which is a metropolis that is at the forefront of this revolution, he admitted that he is dedicated to supporting the expansion of the technology industry in Africa.
The bustling megacity of Lagos in Nigeria is quickly becoming a vibrant epicentre of technological entrepreneurship and innovation. Andela, Paystack, Flutterwave, Kobo360, and Kuda Bank are just a few of the inventive and successful firms that call Lagos home. Lagos is also home to a large number of other outstanding startups. These businesses have not only revolutionised their respective fields, such as the fintech and e-commerce sectors, but they have also sparked a new generation of business owners and investors all throughout the African continent.
In his remark, “These success stories have been made possible, in part, by the fund raised from companies, unicorns, and venture capital firms that have flooded the Lagos tech ecosystem in recent years. More importantly, these investments have been attracted to the market size and the enabling environment that Lagos is becoming on the African continent.”
The quickening of Africa’s progress towards becoming the next Silicon Valley is not merely a goal; it is a reality that is taking place right in front of their very eyes. Because it is a communal effort, it requires the continuing engagement of governments, private sector businesses, academic institutions, and members of civil society. It is a voyage of transformation that will see Africa not just as a consumer of technology but also as a producer, an inventor, and a leader in the digital age.
Speaking on the innovative steps that his administration has taken in the field of technology, Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed the following information: “In deepening internet penetration, a key ingredient for start-up, we have deployed over 2,900 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure that aims to connect public schools, government buildings, hospitals, and other points of interest.”
Along the same lines, the government has installed 3,000 km of optical duct infrastructure in conjunction with the private sector. This will aid in reducing the risk associated with the construction of infrastructure in Lagos, which would ultimately lead to increased connectivity.
Over one billion dollars worth of investments in data centres have been brought into Lagos over the course of the past year. This will make it possible for digital platforms to be domiciled locally and will also make it easier to take advantage of opportunities presented by digital technology. Within this ecosystem, the spread of these investments also creates ten opportunities for the development of talent.
As part of the implementation of our Smart City initiative, the Governor states how they have installed over 600 smart, intelligent video surveillance cameras. In addition, they have installed intelligent transport cameras for the purpose of monitoring and managing traffic. The monitoring of infringement infractions has resulted in a 30 percent reduction in the amount of traffic warden in-person enforcement that has taken place over the past year thanks to our original ITS pilot deployment, which leveraged our Automatic number plate recognition cameras.
The Governor narrates that his Government has launched a significant identity management plan through the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, which will make an effort to identify each and every one of our citizens. According to the most recent estimates, Lagos will have 30 million people living there by the year 2035. For a smarter city, it is essential to steer the identity management ecosystem in the right direction. This will contribute to the state’s increased capacity for efficient resource allocation and planning.
The Lagos digital identify project
In addition, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that “The Lagos Digital Identity Project has undergone a fundamental restructuring of its operational model. With a new digital identification card that is capable of enabling access to benefits, electronic ticketing and so on, it further drives the digital inclusion benchmark for Lagos. Currently, about five million residents have been captured. We are targeting another 10 million within the next year.
More than 4,000 recipients have benefited from the training programmes that we have supported through the Lagos State Employment Trust fund. The curriculum covers topics such as coding, digital marketing, and other forms of innovation. Training like this in digital skills is an essential capacity intervention that will contribute favourably to the ecosystem’s overall development.
“Undeniably, this infrastructure has significantly contributed to the flourishing startup economy within Lagos State. However, the momentum is not confined to Lagos or Nigeria alone. From Nairobi’s Silicon Savannah to Cape Town’s Silicon Cape, and from Rwanda’s growing tech scene to Morocco’s digital development strides, the story is the same. Africa is rising, and technology is the wind beneath our wings,” he remarked.
According to a report published by McKinsey, Africa’s consumer expenditure is forecast to reach $2.1 trillion by the year 2025, and by the year 2035, its workforce is anticipated to be the largest in the world. The potential for growth and development in Africa is enormous, and the industry of technology is playing a critical role in releasing this potential for growth and development.