Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has said Africa must focus on expanding successful technological innovations to reach more people, rather than concentrating only on developing new ideas.
Hamzat made this known on Tuesday at the fifth edition of TeXcellence, held at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, where he called for sustained investment in digital infrastructure, predictable government policies and institutional reforms to accelerate the continent’s digital transformation.
The event, themed “Accelerating Africa’s Digital Future Lacks Direction and a Sustained Force,” brought attention to the need for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector to turn technological breakthroughs into practical solutions that can benefit millions of people.
According to Hamzat, Africa’s major challenge is no longer a lack of innovation but the difficulty of scaling successful ideas into sustainable systems that deliver economic and social benefits.
He said governments must remove bureaucratic barriers and create an environment where technology businesses and innovators can grow, adding that sustained investment and supportive policies are necessary to make digital solutions accessible to more people.
Lagos Invests in Digital Infrastructure
Highlighting Lagos State’s efforts to expand its digital infrastructure, Hamzat disclosed that the state had laid approximately 3,000 kilometres of fibre ducts and networks, with a further $22 million invested towards developing a unified 6,000-kilometre network.
He also said more than 6.4 million residents had been enrolled in the state’s resident identity system, while digital reforms had improved the processing of public services, including physical planning permits and mortgage consent applications.
On research and innovation, Hamzat said the Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC) had supported 80 researchers and more than 75 startups.
He added that approximately ₦1 billion was available in grants for innovators, while the state was considering an innovation law that would allocate a fixed proportion of its annual budget to research, development and risk capital.
According to him, the proposed measure would help provide consistent funding for research and support the growth of local technology businesses.
Hamzat also emphasised the need for stronger partnerships between government and industry, proposing measurable commitments from both sides to accelerate digital transformation.
CWG Chief Executive Highlights Digital Sovereignty
In his welcome address, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CWG Plc, Adewale Adeyipo, described TeXcellence as a platform that had evolved over five years into a strategic forum for shaping Africa’s digital future.
Adeyipo said African governments, technology companies and other stakeholders must prioritise digital sovereignty, local artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and the sustainable deployment of technology to secure the continent’s future.
He said Africa must move beyond experimenting with technology to developing and deploying sustainable solutions that strengthen its control over its digital development.
According to him, the continent must take deliberate steps to own and shape its digital future instead of depending solely on innovations and infrastructure developed elsewhere.
Africa Needs Local AI Infrastructure
Adeyipo said Africa’s digital transformation would require deliberate investment in local computing infrastructure, wider access to affordable digital devices and improved digital literacy.
He also stressed the need to move AI solutions beyond pilot projects into reliable systems that can operate sustainably and remain commercially viable.
He noted that Africa’s digital transformation must be guided by clear direction, sustained investment and measurable results, rather than an emphasis on the speed of technological adoption alone.
The discussions at TeXcellence highlighted the importance of combining innovation with the infrastructure, policies and long-term investment needed to make technology more accessible and deliver lasting benefits across the continent.
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