Lagos Targets 2026 for Passage of Innovation Bill to Drive Research and Development

The Lagos State Government intends to increase cooperation between universities and the commercial sector by passing an Innovation Bill by the middle of 2026.

In Nigeria’s commercial capital, the proposed law seeks to promote innovation, research, and technology-driven development.

This was revealed during the ongoing GITEX Global Technology Exhibition in Dubai by Tubosun Alake, Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology.

In order to improve product development and commercialize research findings, he said, the new legislation aims to provide a formal framework for collaboration between businesses and academic institutions.

The bill will allow private corporations to finance certain research initiatives at higher institutions, giving both sides joint ownership of the resulting intellectual property and rights to possible commercial rewards, according to Alake.

“The formulation stage is where we are at the moment. He clarified that the initial draft will be made public for review before being presented to the Lagos State Executive Council and then to the House of Assembly for a first reading. “We hope the bill will be passed by the second or third quarter of 2026.”

In order to ensure that research is in line with actual market demands, the commissioner stated that the program would institutionalize collaboration between university and industry.

The University of Lagos is commissioned to create a new radio device that a corporation such as MTN or Airtel needs. According to Alake, the resulting idea would be jointly owned by both parties and may even serve as the foundation of a business.

“This approach reflects global best practices in innovation management, where universities are key players in promoting entrepreneurship and industrial research,” he continued.

With more than 20 million inhabitants, Lagos is Nigeria’s leading technological center and has already established itself as the continent’s startup capital by playing host to a large number of accelerators, incubators, and international tech partnerships.

The state partners with global technological behemoths like Google and Meta to increase digital literacy and capacity building, while also providing early-stage founders with workspaces, cash, and coaching through its Lagos Innovates project.

Alake confirmed that this measure would further establish Lagos as Africa’s hub for research-based innovation and sustainable technological advancement.