Lagos State University (LASU), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched the LASU Innovation Hub, an incubation centre for transformative ideas and entrepreneurship.
The launch ceremony took place at the Centre of Excellence for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Awori House), Ojo campus. It featured top government officials, traditional rulers, industry leaders, and innovators showcasing prototypes and engaging with potential investors.
Representing the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Ms. Moronke Azeez, commended LASU and the UNDP for their commitment to youth empowerment.
Hamzat lauded the university’s openness to innovation and called for a model of shared responsibility where government funds research, the private sector collaborates with universities, and institutions invest in innovation hubs.
“The launch signifies a mindset shift, seeing problems as opportunities, young people as assets, and universities as launchpads for national renewal,” he said.
Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), who donated the facility, said she was proud to support LASU as it nurtures the next generation of leaders and thinkers.
According to her, the hub offers a dynamic space for innovation, enterprise, and capacity development under the strategic management of the UNDP. “It will serve as an incubator for startups and social enterprises, offering mentorship, training, and access to funding opportunities,” she said.
Ms. Elsie Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, described the initiative as a bold step toward transforming public universities into engines of innovation and economic growth. “This open day is a strategic move to energise student and faculty ecosystems,” she noted.
LASU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, stated that the Innovation Hub represents a critical step in building a university that produces not only academically sound graduates but also future-ready innovators.
“The LASU Innovation Hub is more than just an incubation centre. It’s a launchpad for ideas, solutions, and enterprises that will shape the future of Nigeria and Africa.”
