In a bid to drive a culture of Innovation, Science & Technology, and Research, the Lagos State Government has disclosed it has earmarked a seed fund of N1,000,000,000 (One billion) for scalable research works.
The Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Hon. Olatunbosun Alake, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the University of Lagos 2024 Data Science School which held on Monday, August 19, 2024.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Developing Skills for the Future: Data Science and Training“, he commended UNILAG for its initiative and underscored the crucial role of Data Science in driving smart city initiatives and sustainable development in Lagos.
The Commissioner who spoke through the Coordinator, Lagos State Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), Mr. Alani Lateef stressed the importance of training, noting that it is a huge reason why the state is committed to programmes of the kind.
With Lagos being one of the largest megacities in the world, he revealed that efforts are underway to making it a smart city.
He therefore tasked participants to take advantage of the LASRIC Seed Fund set up to enable wealth creation, growth and tackle societal challenges in Lagos State.
Welcoming participants to this year’s school, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Olayinka Taiwo Asekun, delivered remarks on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS.
She lauded the establishment of the Data Science School as a strategic move to place the university at the forefront of technological innovation and research.
Emphasizing the commitment of the university to foster an environment of academic excellence and cutting-edge research, she encouraged this year’s participants to actively engage with the content, ask questions, and build connections during the two-week-long school.
According to her, “we are at a crossroad of a rapidly evolving landscape. Data science has become a cornerstone of innovation that is driving insights and shaping decisions in every sector and we cannot but tap into it”.
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On her part, the Ag. Head of the Department of Statistics, Dr. Bridget Nkemnole, extended appreciation to those who made the event a success.
She also highlighted the importance of Data Science in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape and expressed her enthusiasm for the new opportunities that the Data Science School will provide students and researchers in the next few days.
The event was attended by several dignities including the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Professor M.O Adamu; Head of Department of Statistics of the University of Ibadan Professor Olubusayo Elisa. Other prominent figures present at the even includes the Coordinator of Statistics Without Borders (SWB), Dr. Rose Ray, who joined the event virtually.
They all praised the initiative and highlighted the global impact of collaborative efforts in data science, advocating for continued international partnerships to address global challenges
The ceremony also featured a compelling lecture by Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa, Director of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). His presentation, titled “Big Data for Smart City Initiative,” explored the transformative potential of big data in creating smarter and more efficient urban environments.
The training programme will run from 19th – 30th August 2024 reflecting the University of Lagos’ dedication to advancing the field of Data Science and its commitment to contributing meaningfully to global technological progress.
