LAGOS SET TO CREATE INNOVATION AGENCY Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, in conjunction with PRI Project Development, an international financial advisory firm has kicked off a 2-Day innovation workshop for public professionals in the state in order to fast track government’s long term goal of setting up an Innovation Agency which will create the required ecosystem and infrastructure aimed at turning the State into a West Africa Innovation hub. The workshop, an initiative of PRI Project Development, attracted top government officials from Agricultural Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Food Technology, Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology departments of the state’s tertiary institutions, and other relevant government agencies. Local and foreign innovation experts such as Dr. Shuki Gleitma, the former Chief Scientist of Israel and Mrs. Feyi Boroffice, Senior Advisor to the World Bank led the discussion on how innovation practices can be disseminated throughout the state by collaborating with and supporting private sector initiative aimed at job creation and attracting investments. Present at the interactive workshop also were Mr. Yoram Halevy, the World Bank Private Sector Development Specialist and Dr. Shlomi Parizat, CEO of a leading Israeli Technical Incubator and an Advisor to the World Bank in monitoring and evaluation of Innovation programmes. In his address at the workshop, held at the Lagos State e-learning centre Marina, Dr. Shuki Gleitma, the former Chief Scientist of Israel said “We are deeply impressed with the Lagos Government’s Commitment and focus to establish the states as the Innovation hub of West Africa. We feel the city-state’s reputation as a vibrant commercial centre with a unique concentration of young and talented entrepreneurs could with the right public and private sector support become the first African Silicon Valley”. On her part, Mrs. Boroffice said that Nigeria has a lot going in her favour in terms of Human capital, growing middle class, entrepreneurialspirit and economic growth, adding that Lagos is in a prime position to become the regional hub of innovation for the country and the continent. Earlier, in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Nike Animashaun disclosed that the main focus of the workshop was to create an ecosystem required to support and accelerate innovative projects and technologies in the state. Participants at the workshop were given an overview of world best practices as well as key ideas and practical tools to successfully implement innovative ideas.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 09:56:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015