Lagos Mulls Collaboration With Meta To Deepen Digital Space

Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said his administration would collaborate with a technology company, Meta Platform Inc (formerly Facebook) to deepen the digital space in the state.

Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this when the president, Global Affairs, Meta Platforms Inc (Facebook), Sir Nick Clegg paid him a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Marina.

It was gathered that areas of mutual interest between Lagos State and Meta Platform will include digital marketing scholarships for Lagosians, open-source technology for training of young innovators in Artificial Intelligence, tools for local businesses to help develop their businesses among several other areas of partnership.

Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated his administration’s commitment to ease of doing business, saying the state government would continue to leverage its rules and regulations for businesses to do well.

He said the state sees technology as an enabler for the country to catch up with the first world economy, assuring that Lagos would, in years to come, become the human capital centre of the world.

He said: “We see a huge opportunity in the future of work and growth. One of the things we want Lagos to be remembered for in the next 10, 15 years, is to be the human capital of the world. If Facebook needs 500,000 to one million people, you can come to Lagos. If Microsoft needs a million people for the next 10 years, we can help with that.’’

“We are creating an enabling environment for the likes of Meta Platform to come in. We are developing the system and an economy where we don’t want to starve businesses but we want to create a platform where your businesses can thrive and grow.’’

Earlier, Clegg pledged Meta Platform’s readiness to work in close collaboration with the Lagos State Government to deepen the digital space.

He commended the Governor Sanwo-Olu-led administration for creating the enabling environment for growth of technology and innovation for the people of Lagos State.