Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to drive the State’s economy with modern technology, just as it disclosed the launch of the LASG Campus Network – an enterprise infrastructure that connects thousands of computers from all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) within and around the Secretariat for e-governance operations.

The Honourable Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Fahm, stated this at the 2020 Ministerial Press Briefing organised by the State Government to commemorate one year in Office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stressing that the State is fully committed to leveraging on ICT for the greater good of Lagos State and the country.

According to him, the upgrade optimises the current network to reliably and securely support new and existing applications and devices in a bid to increase network availability, performance and security of the LASG Campus Network, while at the same time stabilising its ICT environment for a smarter Lagos.

Fahm submitted that this improved online solution, aided the holding of the First-Ever Virtual Meeting  by the Lagos State Executive Council via Zoom, a free HD meeting application with video and screen sharing for up to 100 people, thereby ensuring that Lagos made history in the annals of  e-governance in Nigeria.

Speaking further on the role of Digital Technology in driving Lagos Economy, the Commissioner explained that the LASG Enterprise GIS Upgrade and Integrated Land Administration Automation Programme will provide a fully digital mapping platform and an integrated end-to-end land administration system.

He added that in order to ensure public services are delivered despite the large population in the State, the government recently launched two aerial Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), commonly called drones, to enhance digital mapping and accurate planning to achieve the present administration’s vision of achieving a Smart City status.

Also speaking at the briefing, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Technology, Mr. Tunbosun Alake, said his office has focused on three core areas, namely: Launch of the Innovation and Technology Master Plan; Developing the Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Policy, and Creating the Lagos Solution Hub.

Alake revealed that the Innovation and Technology master plan is sub-divided into four main pillars – Access, Data, Infrastructure and Funding – that are required to enable a vibrant innovation ecosystem, stressing that the government has also  established the Research and Innovation Council to promote research and innovation activities in public and private institutions.

He informed that the present administration has approved the sum of N250 million seed capital for technology and innovation, tech start-ups and young innovators in the State.

The fund, according to him, is meant to assist those in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry push their entrepreneurial skills to the next level, as well as help in conducting researches that would solve issues of national significance.