As Nigeria’s tech ecosystem continues to evolve, Lagos Startup Week 2025, themed “Disrupting the Next Decade”, is poised to ignite a new wave of innovation. The event, hosted at the Civic Centre in Lagos, marks a significant milestone—a decade of empowering startups and shaping the future of African tech.
Organized by Prime Startups, Lagos Startup Week has grown into a vital platform for transforming fledgling ventures into sustainable, job-creating enterprises. At a recent media parley held at the UNDP Innovation Centre in Ikoyi, key players—including the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Carbon, and InDrive—joined forces to reaffirm their commitment to driving startup growth across the continent.
Olumide Olayinka, Co-founder of Lagos Startup Week and Partner at Prime Startups, reflected on the journey so far:
“When we started ten years ago, the ecosystem was just taking shape. Today, we’ve helped nurture countless ventures into market leaders.”
He emphasized that the 2025 theme, “Disrupting the Nexus,” represents the next chapter in positioning Lagos as a hub of innovation—transforming ideas into commercially viable, globally competitive businesses.
Government and Private Sector Unite for Growth
Sinari Daranijo, Board Member of LSETF, highlighted the Lagos State Government’s long-term vision:
“We’re not just supporting startups; we’re building a sustainable ecosystem.”
Through the Lagos Innovates program, LSETF has supported over 240 startups and provided 750+ workspace vouchers, enabling scalable growth and job creation across sectors.
In the private sector, Carbon’s Head of Marketing, Nnenna Onyebuchi, underscored the role of AI-powered fintech tools in accelerating startup development:
“Our AI-driven solutions help startups build faster and smarter, ensuring they can compete in a dynamic market.”
InDrive’s Country Manager, Dimeji Timothy, praised Lagos Startup Week for promoting gender diversity. He cited Nigeria’s standout performance in the Aurora Tech Award, where 21 of the top 120 finalists were Nigerian female founders.
A Future-Oriented Platform
UNDP, a key supporter, acknowledged Lagos Startup Week’s role in reshaping Africa’s development through digital innovation. A UNDP spokesperson stated:
“The evolving digital landscape is reshaping development work, and Lagos Startup Week is at the forefront of this change.”
The event will feature workshops, panel discussions, pitch competitions, and networking sessions, offering startups a platform to learn, grow, and connect with investors and policymakers.
Building Beyond Startups
Prime Startups has distinguished itself by focusing on building resilient businesses rather than just launching startups. Their approach integrates founder support, cross-border partnerships, and strategic engagement to create jobs, attract investments, and expand markets.
“We get excited about innovative ideas,” Olayinka added, “but we’re passionate about the commercial success that follows.”
As Lagos Startup Week 2025 approaches, the spotlight is once again on African entrepreneurship, and how a new generation of founders is set to disrupt industries and shape the continent’s future.
For more information and registration, visit www.lagosstartupweek.com.
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