Lagos State plans to pass its Innovation Bill by mid-2026, formalising relationships between universities and the tech industry to expedite technology-driven development.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake, revealed this at events that marked the ongoing GITEX Global Technology Exhibition in Dubai.
He explained that the legislation is intended to establish a systematic framework for collaborative research between academic institutions and industry, ensuring shared ownership of intellectual property and commercial benefits.
According to Alake, the legislation is currently in the drafting phase, with the first version of the bill being available for public comment soon
“We expect to present it to the Lagos State Executive Council soon, before forwarding it to the House of Assembly for first reading,” he said, noting that its passage is targeted for the second or third quarter of 2026.
The proposed law seeks to strengthen Lagos’ position as Nigeria’s technology capital by linking academia and industry to produce market-ready innovations.
It will enable corporations to fund university-led research projects tailored to industry needs, covering sectors such as telecommunications, fintech, and manufacturing
“Imagine a telecoms firm commissioning a local university to develop a next-generation radio device,” Alake explained. “Both the company and the university could co-own the resulting technology and even create a commercial venture around it. That’s the kind of innovation ecosystem we want to institutionalise.”
Alake said the Innovation Bill will mark a new phase in Lagos’ technology evolution, shifting from startup incubation to research commercialisation.
“Our goal is to make Lagos the centre of research-based innovation in Africa,” he said.
