By Oluwatope Lawanson
The Lagos State Government has called for sustained investment in digital infrastructure, education and skills development to ensure inclusive growth and broaden participation in the nation’s digital economy.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, made the call on Thursday while receiving the Public Sector Technology and Engineering Leader of the Year Award at the Women in Technology and Engineering Summit Africa (WITESA) 5.0 in Lagos.
Hazmat, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Bolanle Olukareh, said technology was rapidly transforming economies and societies, stressing that its benefits must be accessible to all.
He noted that Lagos had made significant strides in innovation, broadband expansion, startup support and technology adoption, but said many communities remained excluded from emerging digital opportunities.
According to him, challenges such as inadequate internet connectivity, unreliable electricity supply, low digital literacy and affordability constraints continue to hinder participation in the digital economy.
“Bridging the digital divide requires collective action from government, the private sector, educational institutions and civil society organisations,” he said.
Hamzat urged stakeholders to increase investments in broadband infrastructure, digital education and skills acquisition, particularly for women, youths, small businesses and underserved communities.
He emphasised that no citizen should be denied access to digital opportunities because of location, age, gender or economic circumstances.
The deputy governor added that Lagos had demonstrated that inclusive growth could be driven through strategic investments in technology hubs, digital education, healthcare innovation and broadband infrastructure.
The summit also honoured individuals and organisations advancing women’s participation and excellence in technology, engineering and cybersecurity across Africa.
Receiving the Cybersecurity Excellence Award on behalf of CyberSafe Foundation Founder, Confidence Staveley, Ms Ditiem Tawo, described the recognition as a testament to the growing influence of women in the cybersecurity space.
She said the award celebrated women who had broken barriers and demonstrated that opportunities in cybersecurity were open to everyone, regardless of gender.
Tawo encouraged young women aspiring to careers in technology to remain focused, build relevant skills and pursue opportunities with confidence.
Also, Women in Tech Mentor of the Year award recipient, Nkemdilim Uwaje-Begho, said the recognition reinforced her commitment to mentoring young innovators and entrepreneurs.
She noted that technology remained a critical driver of socio-economic development and called for greater female participation across the sector.
According to her, mentorship programmes provide emerging entrepreneurs with practical knowledge, industry exposure and strategies needed to grow sustainable businesses.
President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Dr Chinyere Igwegbe, said the organisation had spent more than three decades promoting STEM education among girls.
Igwegbe said APWEN’s scholarships, engineering competitions and STEM initiatives had helped inspire thousands of girls to pursue careers in engineering and related fields.
She described the award presented to the association as an encouragement to deepen grassroots advocacy and inspire more girls to become innovators and problem-solvers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other award recipients included Dr Vincent Olatunji, who received the Male Ally for Women in Technology Award.
Also honoured was Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, who received the Research Excellence Award, alongside other distinguished technology leaders.
NAN also reports that WITESA is one of Africa’s leading technology and engineering platforms celebrating women’s achievements, leadership and contributions to STEM development. NAN
