Lagos Youths Are Key to Future Prosperity – Ajigbotafe
Kehinde Adeleye
The Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, has reiterated the critical role of young entrepreneurs, developers and innovators in shaping the economic future of Lagos State.
Ajigbotafe made the remarks while delivering the keynote address as Special Guest at the CODEFEST Nigerian Hackathon Expo and Awards 2025 held at the University of Lagos, Akoka. He was represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resource, Mrs. Kudirat Aderonke Bello.
The Commissioner praised Codefest Nigeria for its milestones, including the development of 92 innovative tech solutions and its recognition in the Guinness World Records, describing the achievements as proof of the creativity and global potential of Nigerian youth.
He noted that the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment remains fully committed to converting the skills and potential of Lagos youths into sustainable prosperity through skill development, entrepreneurship support and job creation. According to him, wealth creation in the modern world is driven by ideas and innovation rather than physical resources.
“In today’s world, wealth is created by digging for ideas. Every solution showcased at this Hackathon has the potential to become a sustainable business, a job creator and a service that improves the lives of Lagos residents,” he said.
Ajigbotafe challenged participants to build solutions addressing practical issues such as Primary Healthcare delivery, traffic management and employment access. He assured that the Lagos State Government is open to partnering with innovators and integrating viable solutions into its ministries and agencies.
Guest Speaker and CEO of Triberry Nigeria, Mr. Vinod Kaurati, stressed that Automation, AI and Cloud Technology are already reshaping industries globally, predicting that Africa will emerge as a global technology leader by 2030, with Nigeria needing about 30 million professionals in the tech sector.
Also, the Managing Director of Mekatrice Group, Dr. Kingsley Oboti, underscored the importance of digital infrastructure in driving Africa’s economic transformation.
A standout moment at the event was the display of a remote-controlled car built from discarded materials by young innovator Israel Destiny, attracting admiration from guests and participants.
Ajigbotafe applauded Codefest International and the University of Lagos for consistently empowering youths and strengthening the innovation ecosystem. He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to nurturing creative talent and building a workforce prepared for the future.
