Lagos State played host to the convergence of innovation and technology leaders when commissioners for innovation, science and technology and other senior subnational delegates gathered during GITEX in the state for the ICT Commissioners Roundtable.
Conceived as a national platform to align sub-national digital priorities with federal strategy, strengthen inter-state collaboration and accelerate the drive towards a digital economy that is inclusive and locally-led, the roundtable had attendance from key stakeholders across the country.
Attendees include Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity; Olatunbosun Alake, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Lagos state; Ibilola Kasunmu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST); Dr Lawrence Ezeh, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Enugu state and Dr Justin Atiang Beshel, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Cross River state.
Also present were heads of ICT agencies from Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Yobe, Nasarawa, Ogun, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Zamfara and Ondo states.
The Lagos Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Alake, set the tone for Lagos’s role as host in his welcome address.
He highlighted Lagos’s sustained investment in digital infrastructure, talent development and regulatory reform, saying Lagos must lead by example so that states across the federation can adapt to work.
He also outlined the state’s programmes and reiterated its willingness to support inter-state exchange programmes and technical partnerships.
Sen. Shuaib 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 is often dependent on synergy with education, health and finance ministries and flagged that new ICT bills are being developed in the National Assembly to strengthen legal and policy frameworks for innovation and cybersecurity.
