By Florence Onuegbu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says government will accelerate actions to ensure that the Lagos Innovation Bill is signed into law within the first quarter of 2024.

Sanwo-Olu said this at the Opening Ceremony of the Art Of Technology (AOT) Lagos 5.0 Conference, with the theme: ”The Creative Economy and a Digital Lagos,” on Thursday.

He said the Innovation Bill, when signed into law would increase employment opportunities in the creative industry, enhance competitiveness and foster economic development, among others.

The governor said this would be achieved through collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in the creative sector and the government.

He said the Lagos State initiatives for the creative industry had yielded positive results.

Sanwo-Olu said such initiatives included Investment in Infrastructure and Technology, Lagos Film City; and Collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation to support Intellectual Property Rights.

Other initiatives are a dedicated Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council cohort for the Creative Economy and the Lagos Innovation Bill.

According to him, Lagos has solidified its status as Africa’s foremost fashion and creative hub, emblematic of the shared commitment to technological advancement.

”Notably, the music industry has burgeoned into the second-largest in Africa, boasting an annual revenue exceeding two billion dollars.

”This achievement is underscored by our artistes receiving prestigious accolades such as Grammys, and the proliferation of international streaming services attests to the industry’s global resonance.

”The transformative impact of technology on Lagos’s development is profound. Over the past decade, technology has propelled a remarkable 500 per cent increase in productivity across pivotal sectors, ranging from agriculture to manufacturing.

”Our smart city initiatives have not only enhanced the efficiency of public services but have also significantly elevated the overall quality of life for our residents.

”Our journey towards a Digital Lagos propelled by the Creative Economy is backed by robust figures and data. It is a collective endeavour that requires the synergy of government, industry, academia, and civil society.

”Together, we will build a future where innovation knows no bounds, where creativity flourishes, and where the digital heartbeat of Lagos resonates across the globe,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the Federal Government would collaborate with the Lagos State Government to boost the creative sector.

Tijani said this would involve using technology for a digital Lagos, that would benefit the youths in the state.

He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had invested in the digital economy to create more employment.

The minister implored the Lagos State Government to convert open fields used for football across the state, into a smart field that would be well equipped for public exercises and gymnastics to engage the youths positively.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Olatubosun Alake, said the creative economy was a force that transcended industries, driving innovation, and contributing to economic growth.

Alake said some of the objectives of the Art of Technology Lagos 5.0 was to proffer solutions to the challenges in the tech world, which included combating piracy and enhancing information sharing for a digital Lagos.

He said over 10,000 participants would participate physically and virtually in the two-day Art of Technology Lagos 5.0 Conference, which would end on Friday.

Nigerian actor and film producer, Mr Kunle Afolayan, while speaking at the conference, commended Gov. Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to the creative industry in Lagos State.

Afolayan, who is one of the nine-member committee on Film Production Empowerment for Lagos State, said that the one billion naira seed capital by the state government to boost the creativity sector in the state had started yielding positive results. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma