The 2025 edition of Lagos Startup Week promises to shape the next decade of tech innovation as it celebrates 10 years of building a strong startup ecosystem in Nigeria. Organizers shared their vision during a media briefing ahead of this year’s summit, themed “Disrupting the Next Decade of Innovation.”
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), along with several private sector sponsors, are backing the event. Together, they aim to spotlight Lagos as the center of Nigeria’s growing tech landscape.
Olumide Olayinka, co-founder of Lagos Startup Week, said the journey began when Nigeria’s startup space was still developing. Today, the impact is visible in thriving tech hubs and ventures across the country. He added that the theme focuses on how Lagos has transformed and how it can continue to lead.
Mr. Sinari Daranijo, Board of Trustees Member at LSETF, noted that the government isn’t just funding startups but working to build a lasting innovation economy. He pointed out that over 750 workspace vouchers and support for 240 startups have been provided under the Lagos Innovates program.
Carbon’s Head of Marketing, Nnenna Onyebuchi, reaffirmed the fintech company’s commitment to helping entrepreneurs scale through AI-powered banking tools. She highlighted the firm’s early entry into Nigeria’s fintech space and its understanding of the challenges startups face.
Dimeji Timothy from InDrive applauded the initiative for encouraging female participation, noting that Nigeria accounted for 20 percent of the top 10 global finalists in the Aurora Tech Award, which celebrates women founders.
Silver Utomi, another co-founder and founder of “Women Who Launch,” emphasized the platform’s inclusive growth. She noted that half of this year’s participants are women, with a push for stronger female representation in leadership and policy spaces.
A representative from the UNDP Innovation Center also spoke on the rapid changes in digital innovation and how these trends are shaping development efforts.
As Lagos Startup Week marks a decade of growth, the focus now shifts to how the next 10 years can unlock more success for entrepreneurs, especially through collaboration, inclusivity, and strategic innovation.
