Lagos Innovates, an arm of the [Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF)](https://lsetf.gov.ng), disclosed that it has backed upwards of 1,200 fledgling startups and equipped over 3,000 technology‑focused individuals with market‑relevant skills, as part of its drive to spur job creation and deepen the state’s digital economy.
During a session titled “Building Businesses, Creating Jobs & Driving Startup Growth” at the inaugural GrowthX conference organised by Techeconomy, Olanike Aladeojebi – head of startups at Lagos Innovates – outlined the programme’s purpose and recent milestones.
Aladeojebi explained that Lagos Innovates was created to reduce the financial barriers for newcomers to the tech sector while delivering end‑to‑end support that helps early‑stage ventures move quickly from concept to validated business models.
She added that the programme concentrates on three pillars: strengthening the capabilities of technology talent, spotting promising early‑stage startups, and guiding those startups through the most challenging phases of turning ideas into viable enterprises.
> “As a government, our role can be summed up in one word – we lower the cost > of entry and ensure participants receive sustained support throughout the > lifecycle of their ideas, enabling rapid validation,” Aladeojebi said.
According to her, a thriving tech ecosystem depends on a steady flow of talent, ideas, and businesses, each feeding the other.
> “Talent must keep flowing, ideas must keep being sparked, and businesses > must keep emerging,” she asserted.
Lagos Innovates intervenes at the earliest stages – from idea generation to prototype development – when founders often lack access to workspaces, mentorship, and other critical resources.
Since its launch in 2018, the initiative has provided more than 1,200 startups with benefits such as workspace vouchers that grant access to professional innovation hubs, fostering collaboration within the ecosystem.
Beyond physical infrastructure, Lagos Innovates runs an incubation programme that assists founders in validating concepts, structuring their businesses, understanding market dynamics, and connecting with potential investors.
Aladeojebi noted that the incubation cycle currently has an open call for applications, inviting startups to apply for mentorship, structured training, and guidance from seasoned facilitators.
On the talent development front, Lagos Innovates reported having trained over 3,000 individuals to date and aims to reach an additional 1,200 youths through a new curriculum covering seven high‑demand tech skills.
One flagship effort highlighted at the conference was the **EkoAI Academy**, a joint venture between Lagos Innovates, LSETF, and [InnoPower Africa](https://innopowerafrica.com). The academy targets 10,000 young Lagosians with practical artificial‑intelligence training, employing a train‑the‑trainer model that begins with 100 master trainers who will cascade knowledge to larger groups.
Victor Ikenna, Talent & Client Success Manager at InnoPower Africa, said the partnership showcases how government resources and private‑sector expertise can combine to broaden access to emerging technology skills.
> “We have the expertise, the AI knowledge, and the facilitators, but we > cannot teach ourselves. We need people, and the government has the people,” > Ikenna remarked.
He explained that participants will receive entry to an online learning platform featuring modular courses, complemented by live sessions held twice a week. The curriculum goes beyond basic AI literacy, teaching learners how to embed AI capabilities into existing professional functions such as graphic design, video editing, and marketing.
The overarching goal, according to Ikenna, is to equip young Nigerians with competencies that boost productivity, improve career prospects, and open doors to global opportunities.
The session also featured testimonies from entrepreneurs who have benefitted from government‑backed programmes, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts between public agencies, private firms, and the startup community in building a robust Lagos technology ecosystem.