The Lagos State Government has committed a substantial seed fund of 1 billion naira to support scalable research works.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Hon. Olatunbosun Alake, during the opening ceremony of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) 2024 Data Science School, which commenced on Monday, August 19, 2024.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner, who was represented by the Coordinator of the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), Mr. Alani Lateef, stressed the crucial role of data science in driving smart city initiatives and sustainable development in Lagos.
“With Lagos being one of the largest megacities in the world, efforts are underway to making it a smart city,” the Commissioner said, urging the participants to take advantage of the LASRIC Seed Fund to enable wealth creation, growth, and tackle societal challenges in the state.
The opening ceremony of the Data Science School was attended by various dignitaries, including the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Olayinka Taiwo Asekun, who delivered remarks on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS.
Professor Asekun lauded the establishment of the Data Science School as a strategic move to place the university at the forefront of technological innovation and research. “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,” she said, encouraging the participants to actively engage with the content and build connections during the two-week-long school.
The Acting Head of the Department of Statistics, Dr. Bridget Nkemnole, also expressed her enthusiasm for the new opportunities that the Data Science School will provide students and researchers in the next few days.
The event also featured remarks from the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Professor M.O Adamu, the Head of the Department of Statistics at the University of Ibadan, Professor Olubusayo Elisa, and 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 highlight of the event was a compelling lecture by Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa, the 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, which will run from August 19 to August 30, 2024, reflects the University of Lagos’ dedication to advancing the field of data science and its commitment to contributing meaningfully to global technological progress.
With the Lagos State Government’s substantial investment in research and the launch of the Data Science School, UNILAG is poised to play a pivotal role in driving innovation, smart city initiatives, and sustainable development in the state and beyond.
