GE has relaunched its lab space for makers, entrepreneurs

folarin okunola

November 23, 2016 10:20 AM

GE Lagos Garage is a lab space that brings together innovation tools, technology and skills training to shape the future of work.

GEs

The event kicked off with a welcome address by Segun Obagbemi, Head, Communications/Public Affairs at GE West Africa.

Jay Ireland, CEO and President of GE Africa gave the opening remarks. In his speech, Ireland said GE's Lagos Garage is aimed at skills building and empowerment of small and medium size businesses and entrepreneurs.

Ireland also added that, following the launch of the Lagos Garage, the GE Garages concept will be expanding to Kenya as its next launch point.

The GE boss also revealed that GE currently does over $4 billion in business on the African continent and employs over 2,700 people.

Mr Abdul Ahmed Mustapha, Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, took the floor next to give an address.

Mustapha said the Lagos State government is working with schools like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US to help develop an educational curriculum for Lagos State for the advancement of entrepreneurship.

Mustapha also stated that the Lagos State government wants to centre its plans to boost entrepreneurship in the state around Yaba, adding that the state is working on setting up co-working spaces and incubation spaces.

ALSO READ: GE relaunches skills training program for entrepreneurs in Lagos

Highlighting the Lagos State government's desire to work with private sector stakeholders, Mustapha said the government was ready to provide land for use, as long as it aligned with the government's vision for Lagos State.

After Mustapha's speech, Obagbemi brought on the DNMT/LED dancers for a short performance that thrilled the audience.

Proceeding with the agenda, Lazarus Angbazo, CEO and President at GE Nigeria took the floor to moderate a panel on "Skills in Nigeria." Members of the panel included the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Abdul Ahmed Mustapha; Keturah Ovio, Founder of Qeturah, and Simeon Ononobi, founder of SimplePay and MyAds.

At the end of the session, the GE Africa and GE Nigeria management team as well as Abdul Ahmed Mustapha were called upon to officially launch the GE Lagos Garage.

Guests were then invited to experience the Garage which had several 3D printers, CNC Mills, a VR station that demoes GE's advancements in underwater exploration, amongst others.

GE Lagos Garage is a lab space that brings together innovation tools, technology and skills training to shape the future of work.

folarin okunola