Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, said his administration planned to transform the Sabo Industrial Estate in Yaba area to a technology hub and another Silicon Valley where new set of entrepreneurs and innovators will be raised.
Silicon Valley, which is in San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States, is home to many of the world’s largest high-tech corporations and thousands of startup companies.
Governor Ambode said this on Wednesday while speaking during an inspection tour across the state.
He said that his administration would actualise the plan this year and assist the already established technology incubators in the area.
Some of the technology outfits visited included Ardela, IDEA and CC Hub.
The governor, who was joined on the inspection by top government functionaries and former Minister of Communications and Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said government was desirous of assisting entrepreneurs in the ICT sector.
Ambode said entrepreneurs in the sector would be allowed to access N25 billion Employment Trust Fund (ETF) as well as other interventions from the state’s Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment.
“I decided to come here just for me to feel the state of things and to learn about your challenges. Our government is seriously committed to assisting entrepreneurs,” he said.
He said that government would explore the possibility of addressing power challenges confronting the area, especially by linking the estate to the Mainland Independent Power Project.
In her remarks, Mrs Johnson commended the initiative of Governor Ambode, saying that the development signalled a new beginning for the technology sector.
Speaking at Ladipo Market, Governor Ambode said from next month, his administration would commence construction of Alhaji Akinwunmi Street, Ladipo Street and Obagun Avenue, off Fatai Atere Road.
He also said that a multi-layer car park would be constructed in the area.
Ambode solicited for the cooperation of the traders and residents, saying that government would organise a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss modalities for the construction.