The Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial district, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, has declared that innovation is key in the quest for Nigeria’s development, advocating for a radical transformation of research and innovation in the nation’s university system to keep pace with global technological change, stressing that innovation-driven education remains central to national competitiveness.

Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the maiden Research, Innovation and Development Fair of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) on Tuesday, Abiru said Nigeria must “re-imagine, re-engineer and reinvigorate” its research culture if it hopes to remain relevant in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, digital finance, and other emerging technologies.

The theme of the event, “Rebuilding Nigeria’s Research and University System in a Fast-Changing Global Environment,” he noted, underscored the urgent need for universities to become engines of economic growth through knowledge enterprise and industry-aligned innovation.

Abiru, the co-founder of SAIL Empowerment Foundation, hailed LASUSTECH for convening a fair that deepens collaboration between academia and industry, an approach he said mirrors successful global models such as Silicon Valley, Germany’s research–industry synergy and South Korea’s university–government–industry partnerships.

Bringing the conversation home, the Senator highlighted  the SAIL Innovation Lab in Ikorodu, an initiative he founded with his wife, Feyisola, under the SAIL Empowerment Foundation, saying SAIL demonstrates the transformative power of equipping young Nigerians with digital, tech and entrepreneurial skills.

“Many of our youths are now software engineers, product designers, data scientists and startup founders making their mark nationally and internationally,” Abiru said, describing SAIL as proof that Nigerian youths excel when given the right platform.

He commended LASUSTECH for building similar structures that expand pathways for students to turn research into real-world solutions, from food security to urbanisation, energy, health, transportation and digital transformation.

Abiru, who chairs the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, reaffirmed his commitment to championing legislation that strengthens research ecosystems, supports innovation-driven entrepreneurship, expands funding access for startups, promotes digital transformation and enhances university research capacity.

“Nigeria can innovate at scale. Nigeria can build research-driven industries,” he said. “But it requires academia, industry and government working collaboratively and intentionally.”

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Olumuyiwa Odusanya, and the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Francis Meshioye, the President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), other speakers,  charged participants to explore vast opportunities in innovation, referencing the groundbreaking SAIL Innovation Lab.