Lagos Empowers Innovators, Tech Start-Ups With N100m Grant
Lagos State government has awarded grants to tech start-ups and science research initiatives from various universities within the state.
The total grant of N100 million is part of the six pillars of the development agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, which includes fuelling technology-driven innovations to transform Lagos into a 21st-century digital economy and Smart City.
During the maiden edition of Art of Technology (AOT Lagos 1.0) on December 5, 2019, the governor had announced a N250 million grant for science and technology-related ideas and initiatives.
The beneficiaries of the grant are innovating and solving problems in the area of food security, manufacturing, health management and COVID-19 alleviation, and they are the first set to be picked to benefit from the N250 million seed fund earmarked, last year, as research and innovation fund by the state government.
The fund is under the care of the Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council, LASRIC, the agency established with the mandate to facilitate and encourage the development of innovative solutions to solve local problems, using cutting-edge technology.
Congratulating the recipients of the grant, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the initiative aligns with his administration’s vision in turning the state into a technology hub and, therefore, urged the recipients to use the grant judiciously.
He added that science and technology remain key enablers to transform the socio-economic and his administration is on course to delivering good governance and bettering life of Lagosians.
Meanwhile, he urged unsuccessful applicants not to lose hope, charging them to re-apply for the grant in the next round of selection.
He said the state government would be increasing the grant to accommodate more innovators in the subsequent application.
The high point of the event was the presentation of cheques to the awardees by the governor.
Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/08/lagos-empowers-innovators-tech-start-ups-with-n100m-grant/
