The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a global knowledge hub by awarding a total of N75 million in grants to 15 innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Through the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), each recipient received N5 million under the sixth cohort of its grant programme, aimed at empowering those using science, technology, and innovation to address real-world challenges in Lagos and beyond. The awards spanned three categories—research, innovation, and STEM honouring five recipients in each.
The research category recognised projects ranging from transforming invasive plants like sargassum and water hyacinth into valuable resources, to developing a multimodal smart card for tourists, combining herbal extracts with modern medicine, exploring the health benefits of traditional vegetables, and tackling the environmental and economic threats posed to small-scale fisheries.
In the innovation category, awardees are creating solutions in sectors including affordable prosthetics, locally made film equipment, sustainable food systems, African language digitisation for artificial intelligence, and data-driven products for inclusive financial services.
The STEM category celebrated achievements in tech entrepreneurship, digital skills training, education technology, and innovation hubs that nurture young talent.
Speaking at the cheque presentation in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described the initiative as a celebration of bold ideas and problem-solving leadership. He emphasised that supporting innovators is central to the state’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ development agenda, which prioritises technology and innovation as catalysts for economic resilience and inclusivity.
Sanwo-Olu praised the recipients as “builders of tomorrow,” stressing that their work reflects the “+” in T.H.E.M.E.S+, focusing on youth empowerment, innovation, and inclusive growth.
LASRIC Chairman and Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, noted that no nation can achieve sustainable development without significant investment in research and innovation.
With this latest round of funding, Lagos joins a growing number of African cities betting on science and technology as engines of economic transformation, opening new opportunities for job creation, skills development, and global competitiveness.
