The Lagos State Government has awarded N900 million in grants to 155 researchers and startups through the Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), as the state intensifies efforts to support innovation, technology development and scientific research.
The Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Tunbosun Alake, disclosed this on Wednesday during the annual ministerial press briefing marking the third year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
According to Alake, the 2026 LASRIC grant cycle supported 80 researchers and 75 startups after the council processed more than 240 applications across different sectors.
The funding is expected to strengthen local innovation, support early-stage technology businesses and encourage research-driven solutions to challenges affecting healthcare, education, transportation, agriculture and public services in Lagos.
Alake said the initiative aligns with the state government’s wider strategy to position Lagos as a leading innovation and technology hub in Africa.
He noted that LASRIC continues to serve as a platform for connecting researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs with funding opportunities that can help transform ideas into scalable businesses and impactful solutions.
The commissioner also revealed that 6.46 million residents have so far been registered under the Lagos Identity Card Project.
He said the figure includes 4.058 million adults and 2.407 million children.
Speaking on the project, Alake said the Lagos identity system is designed to improve governance, data management and service delivery across the state.
“The Lagos Identity Card Project is extremely important in governance,” he said, adding that the framework allows multiple government agencies and private partners to operate through a unified infrastructure for data and digital services.
