Lagos Innovates, an initiative of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), has supported more than 1,200 startups and trained over 3,000 technology talents as it intensifies efforts to create jobs and strengthen the state’s technology ecosystem.
Olanike Aladeojebi, head of startups at Lagos Innovates, disclosed this during a session titled “Building Businesses, Creating Jobs & Driving Startup Growth” at the maiden GrowthX by Techeconomy held in Lagos.
Aladeojebi said Lagos Innovates was established to lower the cost of entering the technology ecosystem while giving early-stage startups and young talents access to support needed to build sustainable businesses.
“As a government, what we do can be summarised in one word. It's basically to lower the costs of people coming into the ecosystem and also ensuring that those that come into the ecosystem are well supported through a particular life cycle such that they get very quickly validation of their ideas,” she said.
Lagos Innovates supports early-stage startups
According to Aladeojebi, the initiative focuses on developing technology talent, identifying early-stage startups and helping founders navigate the difficult stages of turning ideas into viable businesses.
She said a sustainable technology ecosystem requires a continuous pipeline of talent, ideas and businesses.
“It must continue to flow. Talent must continue to flow. The ideas must continue to be stimulated,” Aladeojebi said.
Since its establishment in 2018, more than 1,200 startups have received support through Lagos Innovates.
The initiative provides access to infrastructure through workspace vouchers, allowing startups to work from professional innovation hubs while connecting with other businesses within the ecosystem.
It also operates an incubation programme that helps founders validate their ideas, develop business structures, understand their target markets and gain access to potential investors.
Aladeojebi said the programme currently has a call for applications open to startups seeking mentorship, structured training and access to experienced facilitators.
Programme targets 1,200 more tech talents
Beyond startup support, Lagos Innovates is also expanding its focus on technology skills and employability.
Aladeojebi said the initiative has trained more than 3,000 people over the years and is targeting another 1,200 technology talents in Lagos through a new programme covering seven high-demand technology skills.
The expansion is aimed at creating a stronger talent pipeline that can support both startups and businesses operating within Lagos' growing technology ecosystem.
EkoAI Academy to train young people in AI
One of the programmes highlighted at the GrowthX session was the EkoAI Academy, an initiative of LSETF/Lagos Innovates in partnership with InnoPower Africa.
The programme aims to reach 10,000 young people in Lagos with practical artificial intelligence skills.
It uses a train-the-trainer model, beginning with 100 master trainers who will subsequently cascade the training to other participants.
Victor Ikenna, Talent & Client Success Manager at InnoPower Africa, said the programme demonstrates how government and private-sector organisations can combine their strengths to expand access to emerging technology skills.
“We have the skill, we have the AI knowledge, we have the facilitators, but we cannot teach ourselves. We need people and the government has the people,” he said.
Ikenna said InnoPower Africa would provide its AI expertise and facilitators, while the government would provide access to a large pool of young people who could benefit from the training.
Training combines AI with existing skills
Participants in the programme will have access to an online learning platform containing different modules and courses, alongside live sessions held twice a week, according to Ikenna.
He said the programme would go beyond basic AI literacy by helping participants integrate AI into existing professional skills such as graphic design, video editing and marketing.
The broader goal, he said, is to equip young people with skills that can improve their productivity, career prospects and access to global opportunities.
Government, startups and private sector urged to collaborate
The GrowthX session also featured experiences from entrepreneurs who have benefited from government-backed interventions.
The discussions highlighted the role of collaboration between government, private-sector organisations and startups in developing Lagos' technology ecosystem.
With Lagos Innovates expanding both startup support and technology training, the initiative is seeking to strengthen the pipeline from skills development and early-stage ideas to viable businesses and job creation.
Source: Techeconomy