The 6th edition of the Art of Technology (AOT) Lagos conference recently convened at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. Organized by the Eko Innovation Centre and powered by the Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, the highly anticipated event was themed “AI and the Lagos Digital Economy.” It served as a pivotal platform, bringing together influential figures in technology, policy, and enterprise to delve into the immense potential of artificial intelligence and its transformative applications for Lagos and the broader African continent.

During the conference, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, affirmed the state government's commitment to fostering an enabling environment for technological innovation. He highlighted that deliberate policies and strategic investments have positioned Lagos as a global player in the technology value chain. These initiatives have successfully spurred Lagos-based startups to raise over $1.2 billion in 2023, constituting an impressive 75 percent of all startup investments in Nigeria for that year. The Governor emphasized the need to continue building on this foundation to secure Lagos's leading position in the global tech ecosystem.

Mr. Terrens Wu, Managing Director of Enterprise Business Group at Huawei Technologies, delivered a keynote address outlining the evolutionary trajectory of human society through distinct growth curves. He explained that the informatization age established ubiquitous interconnection, leading to a traffic explosion and accelerating the demand for digital transformation. This, in turn, fueled a second growth curve driven by 5G and cloud technologies. Wu further posited that a third growth curve, heralding an era of comprehensive intelligence, is now emerging. He stressed the rapidly increasing demand for Artificial Intelligence (AI) computing power, projecting that it might exceed general computing power demand by the end of the year. Therefore, building an elastic, efficient, multi-calculation infrastructure with optimal AI computing power, essentially an AI-native cloud infrastructure, is crucial for future AI development.

Earlier, Mr. Tubosun Alake, Honourable Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology for Lagos State, underscored Lagos’ unwavering commitment to becoming a global leader in digital transformation and technological innovation. He aptly described the state as the vital bridge connecting Africa to the vast opportunities of a digital economy. Concurrently, Mr. Victor Afolabi, Curator and Convener of the Art of Technology and Founder of the Eko Innovation Centre, emphasized that events like AOT consistently reinforce Lagos’ critical position as the gateway to Africa’s digital transformation, aligning the state's focus on AI with global technological dynamics.

The conference featured a series of insightful plenary sessions. The first, titled “The AI Revolution: Transforming Lagos into Africa’s Digital Powerhouse,” was moderated by Seyi Akindeinde, Founder of Hyperspace Technologies. This panel convened prominent thought leaders including Dr Obadare Peter Adewale, Chief Visionary Officer at Digital Encode Limited; Dr Obafemi Kadri Hamzat; Babatunde Bamigboye, Head of Legal & Enforcement for Nigerian Data Protection Commission; and Gbemisola Aruwayo-Obe, Country General Manager and Technology Leader for West Africa at IBM. Their discussions centered on leveraging AI to propel Lagos to the forefront of Africa's digital landscape.

Building on this momentum, the second plenary session, “Beyond the Hype: Preparing Africa’s Infrastructure and Workforce for the Rise,” was moderated by Feyisayo Alayande, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. Key speakers included Olugbolahan Olusanya, Africa Sales and Growth Director at TeKnowledge; Femi Osinubi, Partner and Consulting & Risk Services Leader for West Africa at PwC; Sade Dada, Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa at Meta; Folashade Ambrose Medebem, Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment for Lagos State; and Bunmi Akinyemiju, Cofounder of Venture Garden Group. This session addressed Africa’s preparedness for large-scale AI adoption, highlighting the critical need for strategic investments in infrastructure, education, and cross-sector collaborations, while emphasizing the role of policy frameworks in fostering innovation and ensuring equitable access to AI-driven opportunities.

The ethical dimensions of AI adoption were thoroughly explored in the third plenary session, “Stay Woke: Balancing Data, Privacy, and Ethics in Nigeria’s Digital Hustle.” Moderated by Omoruyi Edoigiawerie, Founder and Chief Servant at EandCLegal, the panel featured Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Founder and CEO of Rise Networks; Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, Founder of Data Science Nigeria; Jimoh Adetunji Wasiu, Head of Applications Department at the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology; and Abimbola Owoeye, Country Lead for Dell Technologies Nigeria. The conversation underscored the paramount importance of establishing ethical guardrails in AI deployment, with panelists reaching a consensus on prioritizing transparency and accountability to safeguard public trust in a data-driven future.

Beyond the plenary sessions, the conference also hosted engaging breakout sessions designed to foster deeper exploration of specific topics in more intimate settings. These sessions tackled pertinent themes such as “AI in Nigeria’s Workforce: Job Creator or Job Disruptor?” and “AI for Social Good: Using Data to Solve Lagos’ Most Pressing Social Issues.” Led by a diverse array of industry leaders, startup founders, and academic experts, these discussions provided actionable insights and illustrative case studies. The highly interactive nature of these breakout sessions facilitated active participant engagement, enabling the exchange of ideas and the forging of valuable connections poised to shape the future of AI implementation across Nigeria.

The day’s extensive programme concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Engr. (Mrs.) Ibilola Kasunmu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology for Lagos State. Her gratitude was extended to all stakeholders, sponsors, and participants whose contributions were instrumental to the success of AOT Lagos 6.0. Kasunmu reiterated the Lagos State Government’s unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and strategically leveraging technology to enhance the lives of its citizens.