Investment into digital infrastructure and connectivity by governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration is yielding dividends, even as more concerted efforts are being put in place by the Lagos State government to increase broadband connectivity.
Commissioner of Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Fahn said, at the launch of the Book: Nigeria Drivers of Digital Prosperity and eWorld forum ’22, that the state’s N600 Million investment to boost technological innovation and other initiatives by the state is already yielding good results with tech start-ups developing local digital solution platforms.
Fahn added that the development has enhanced access for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to stress-free digital payment platforms, thereby improving the digitization of the Lagos economy.
According to him, the governor was investing in the future of technological infrastructure in Lagos State and in the future of young entrepreneurs in technological advancement.
To encourage the youths, the State government also sponsored secondary students to participate in the 774 Young Nigerian Scientist Presidential Award (774-YONSPA which has boosted their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, and encourage them to invent projects and programs that can resolve challenges in the State, such as infrastructure, Environment, waste management, and wealth creation.
According to him the Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), established in 2019, has funded over 70 Research, Innovation, and STEM projects in the last two years. For example, the State collaborates with the University of Lagos to develop ventilators with high commercial value for managing infectious pandemics.
He spoke of the Lagos Smart City Initiative concept premised on using modern technology to revolutionize the entire economy, an initiative. He said would bring Lagos at par with many other economies presently enjoying profound global interests and investments, substantially investing in digital artifacts to achieve a correspondent value in their natural and human endowments.
Fahn said governor Sanwo-Olu’s plan to transform the State into a smart city and make Lagos’s economy 21st-century compliant is fully on course.
“The ongoing laying of 3,000 km fiber metro network cables and broadband infrastructure across the State is part of the comprehensive Smart City program of the government aimed at driving Lagos into a 24-hour economy.
The broadband infrastructure rollout will enable rapid commercial activities and provides instant access to healthcare, government services, and social connectivity, as the strategy is to drop high-speed Internet connectivity into all communities within the State and extend it to public schools, institutions of higher learning, health centers, markets, and all government offices and parastatals.
Fahn said the state broadband access initiative would help the government also to improve security through inter-connected Technological tools such as CCTV cameras, Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring devices, and Integrated Transport Systems (ITS). In addition, the government has also upgraded the Alausa Secretariat campus network infrastructure to encourage the automation of business processes, and promote e-learning and virtual meetings.
The upgrade, he said was implemented with Wi-Fi 6 technology – the latest version of the wireless network.
