The Lagos State Government said it is investing about N250 million in innovative research and development, to boost the region’s economy. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who stated this in Lagos, yesterday, at the ‘Art of Technology Lagos 1.0’ forum, said the investment will be done through the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), for use by innovators in the state. Sanwo-Olu also said his government will build metropolitan fibre optic cables, about 6000 kilometres, to deepen broadband penetration in the state.
  
The Governor said the government is committed to the re-ignition of LASRIC, which is responsible for the management of the science research and innovation fund.He said: “This fund is primarily tasked with investment in research and development in science and technology across different thematic areas in the state. From Artificial Intelligenc (AI) to robotics, to health informatics and green energy, LASRIC will direct funds to solve issues of national significance through science and technology research.”
 
He said his administration cannot deny the intractable challenges facing the state. With a population of about 22 million and a crumbling infrastructure, new sustainable methods of transportation and infrastructure deployment must be formulated to keep up with the population growth.He said the use of AI to predict movement of human resources and materials and reverse environmental degradation are critical solutions we need to adopt. 

“Our challenges put us in a unique position to engineer not just our own solutions but engineer solutions for the world at large. In view of these and other issues, our administration is committed to releasing and turbo charging our nascent problem solving potential through innovations in science and technology. This government is launching the Innovation Master Plan which will highlight the government’s critical focus areas that will unleash a culture of problem solving,” he said.
   
Sanwo-Olu noted that the plan will address the four main pillars that are required to enable a vibrant innovation ecosystem. These pillars are from access to data and access to markets. Making accessibility easier enables creators get the tools and critical ingredients they need to engineer fit for purpose solutions; updated curriculums that match industry needs in critical areas infrastructure, because the impact of broadband communications cannot be overemphasised in the building of a comprehensive technology ecosystem.
  
On funding, he said one critical challenge has been the lack of understanding of local technology ecosystem by investors, promising to tackle this head on.On is part, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hakeem Fahm, in his address, unfolded more of the government’s plans, saying it is embarking on a journey to provide 6,000 Kilometres of fibre connectivity in the state. “3,000 in 2020, and 3,000 in 2021, in addition to that, he is providing 2,000 high definition cameras so as to accomplish a safe city initiative and e-governance.
 
“Pooling all these together will give us smart mobility, healthcare, education, grid and smart energy, smart home, use of Internet of Things and smart relay. So, we need a sustainable framework to do this.”