Lagos State has reaffirmed its leadership in Nigeria’s digital transformation drive by hosting the ICT Commissioners Roundtable during the GITEX Africa conference.
The event brought together Commissioners for Innovation, Science and Technology from across the country, alongside senior government officials and stakeholders, to align sub-national digital priorities with federal strategy.
Sen. Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, and Hon. Olatunbosun Alake, Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, were among key participants.
Others included Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Enugu State; Dr. Justin Beshel, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Cross River State; and representatives from Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Yobe, Nassarawa, Ogun, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Zamfara and Ondo States.
Alake, in his welcome address, said Lagos had made sustained investments in digital infrastructure, talent development and regulatory reform.
He noted that Lagos must lead by example to enable other states to adapt and scale successful models.
Salisu, in his closing remarks, urged states to integrate ICT initiatives with broader development goals to ensure political support and sustainable funding.
He said new bills were being developed in the National Assembly to strengthen legal frameworks for innovation and cybersecurity.
The roundtable featured updates from states on local digital strategies. Enugu State highlighted its smart-school and smart-city projects, while Cross River emphasized private sector linkages.
Ondo State said it was developing a comprehensive ICT policy and reviewing its digital identity framework. Jigawa reported the establishment of the Jigawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency (JISITDEA), while Zamfara announced the launch of a Digital Literacy Framework in July 2025.
Despite progress, delegates cited challenges such as limited inter-state collaboration, funding gaps, bureaucratic delays and difficulty in retaining skilled digital talent.
Participants agreed on the need for formalized exchange programmes, joint projects and routine peer reviews to accelerate implementation.
The roundtable also acknowledged the role of private sector and development partners, with international tech firms sharing insights on open-source AI and developer ecosystems.
Delegates resolved to establish a working group to map existing ICT assets, design a calendar of inter-state technical exchanges and draft a memorandum of understanding template for joint projects.
The forum is expected to become a recurring platform for policy alignment, shared procurement, talent exchange and coordinated infrastructure investments.
