Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, representing Lagos East Senatorial District
Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, representing Lagos East Senatorial District, has emphasised the critical role of innovation in Nigeria’s development, calling for a transformation of the nation’s university research and innovation ecosystem to align with global technological advances.
Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the inaugural Research, Innovation and Development Fair of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), he stressed that innovation-driven education is central to national competitiveness.
Abiru, co-founder of the SAIL Empowerment Foundation, said Nigeria must “re-imagine, re-engineer and reinvigorate” its research culture to remain relevant in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, digital finance, and other emerging technologies.
He lauded LASUSTECH for fostering collaboration between academia and industry, noting that the approach mirrors successful global models such as those in Silicon Valley and South Korea’s university–government–industry partnerships.
Highlighting the SAIL Innovation Lab in Ikorodu, an initiative he founded with his wife, Feyisola, Abiru described how the programme equips young Nigerians with digital, tech, and entrepreneurial skills, producing software engineers, product designers, data scientists, and startup founders making national and international impact.
He commended LASUSTECH for developing similar structures to enable students to translate research into practical solutions across sectors, including food security, energy, health, transportation, and digital transformation.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Abiru reaffirmed his commitment to policies that strengthen research ecosystems, expand funding for innovation, and enhance university research capacity.
“Nigeria can innovate at scale. Nigeria can build research-driven industries,” he said, adding that success requires intentional collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, alongside other dignitaries, encouraged participants to explore innovation opportunities, citing the SAIL Innovation Lab as a model for transforming research into tangible societal impact.
