The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Innovation and Technology, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake has said that the Yaba Technology Cluster will aid rapid innovation and development in Lagos as it has become a hub for start-ups in the technology sector.
Speaking on the ICT hub project, Alake emphasised that the initiative is part of the enabling infrastructure being provided by the present administration to accommodate innovators, tech developers and critical stakeholders in a purpose-built environment.
“The project is to agglomerate all possible ingredients; talents, resources, facilities that fuel innovation, de-risk innovation process and are needed for rapid innovation and technology development in Lagos. We are also talking to some authorities to consider tax incentives for start-ups and research initiatives. These are what motivate the Yaba project”, he said.
According to the Special Adviser, Governor Sanwo-Olu has set up a Project Steering Committee that comprises individuals in private and public sectors that will drive the implementation of the project and ensure its delivery as scheduled.
While giving assurance of doubling down on advocacy, Alake assured that the administration is making huge investments in innovation to drive local value creation as percentage increase in connectivity translates to a percentage rise in the GDP.
On the relocation of Computer Village, Ikeja, he described the Computer Village as a very strong eco-system, stating that the Government is already working on strategies to collaborate with international investors and stakeholders towards repositioning the market.
“The government’s efforts are to formalise the ecosystem and that is what is motivating the movement of the market to the Katangwa area. Government is also investing in infrastructure, the access building while driving the possibility of creating value not only for Nigeria, but for the entire West Africa Sub-Region. Very soon, there will be a blueprint for the Computer Village to be part of the formal economy”, the Special Adviser revealed.
