Lagos advances innovation bill to drive tech growth, inclusive prosperity

Lagos State is advancing its Innovation Bill, a legal framework designed to boost science, technology, and innovation, ensuring inclusive growth and attracting investment

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]agos Tech Law development is moving forward as the Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST) recently held another strategic stakeholder engagement session on the Lagos Innovation Bill.

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This significant meeting, held at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, brought together a diverse group of key stakeholders from the technology and innovation ecosystem, marking a major step towards institutionalizing innovation governance in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

This event represents a continuation of a broader series of engagements hosted by the Ministry. Their goal is to collaboratively create the Innovation Bill, which aims to provide a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework.

This framework will power the development of science, technology, and innovation across Lagos. During this latest session, MIST presented a refined draft of the bill to key actors.

This opened the floor for dialogue, critique, and suggestions. It forms part of an inclusive process designed to ensure the bill is not only fit for purpose but also owned by the community it intends to serve.

Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake, delivered the keynote presentation. He provided both the historical and philosophical context for the bill.

Citing global case studies, including the evolution of Silicon Valley, he explained that Lagos must adopt a structured, intentional approach to innovation. This approach moves beyond mere pilot projects and scattered initiatives.

“If we are serious about building an innovation economy, then we must create systems that allow ideas to become inventions, inventions to become startups, and startups to scale into global businesses. That pipeline must be enabled by law,” Alake stated.

He added that this Lagos Innovation Bill builds on the Nigerian Startup Act. It seeks to additionally cover the full spectrum of the innovation pipeline, including universities and industries.

“This bill goes beyond startups,” Alake explained. “It covers knowledge institutions, research and development, digital infrastructure, innovation funding, and the legal frameworks to protect ideas and attract investment.

It is our attempt to design a Lagos specific framework that can scale innovation and institutionalise progress.” Alake also stressed that the proposed law is designed to catalyse inclusive growth.

It ensures innovation is not limited to elite enclaves or big tech companies. Instead, it aims to reach students, grassroots innovators, and underserved communities. “If innovation is to be meaningful, it must be democratised,” he said.

“That means providing access, funding, training, and regulatory support to everyone—from the university researcher in Epe to the agritech startup in Ikorodu. That’s what this bill aims to do.”

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Engnr. Mrs. Ibilola Kasunmu, welcomed participants.

She emphasised the government’s commitment to participatory policy development. Mrs. Kasunmu urged stakeholders to provide specific, actionable input.

“This session is not just about telling you what the bill says. It is about asking you: does this work for your context? Will this structure enable innovation, or will it stifle it?” she said.

“We believe policy must be driven by those who live in the ecosystem. You are the people who understand the bottlenecks, the regulatory frictions, and the investment gaps. That’s why we are here—not just to talk, but to listen, learn, and improve.”

Mrs. Kasunmu noted that the Lagos Innovation Bill is envisioned as a foundational law. It will support the state’s ambition to become Africa’s undisputed innovation capital.

It complements the Nigeria Startup Act at the federal level, while specifically addressing the dynamics and needs of Lagos’ fast evolving tech and knowledge economy. Joel Ogunshola, a respected ecosystem leader and founder of Tech for Tech, delivered a goodwill message.

He praised the Ministry for its sustained engagement on the bill and described the initiative as “visionary and timely.”

“What Lagos is trying to do with this bill is not to reinvent the wheel,” Ogunshola said.

“Rather, it is to customise the wheel so that it actually works on our roads. This is not just a tech bill; it is an economic growth framework. It’s about unlocking prosperity, innovation, and talent at a scale we’ve never seen before.”

He highlighted the limitations of national policies, which often fail to reflect local realities. Ogunshola argued that sub national legislation is essential to bridge the gap between ambition and execution.

He added that the bill presents a critical opportunity to enshrine legal protections and incentives. These will support not just startups, but also researchers, capital providers, and innovation enablers.

Following the commissioner’s keynote, Mr. Alex Adedipe, a legal practitioner and adviser to the Ministry, guided stakeholders through the key sections of the draft bill.

The engagement then moved into breakout sessions. Attendees were divided into clusters. Each group analysed relevant sections of the bill and submitted feedback. This feedback was collated and then presented during the plenary session.

Closing the session, Engr. Ganiyu Oseni, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Broadband and Technology, expressed the State Government’s appreciation for the active participation and high quality feedback received.

He reiterated the State Government’s commitment to ensuring the final draft of the bill reflects the collective wisdom of the ecosystem.