Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, Enugu Science & Tech Commissioner
The Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, has commended Governor Peter Mbah for significantly advancing digitalisation, innovation, and technology-driven development in the state within just two years in office.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Enugu, Dr. Ezeh highlighted Governor Mbah’s transformative efforts in positioning Enugu as a hub of disruptive and impactful innovation across multiple sectors.
According to Ezeh, “Gov. Mbah ensured effective implementation of robust digital infrastructure, training and retraining of all government employees and functionaries, eliminating paper usage, enshrining proper information and data management, facilitating online transactions and effective citizens engagement.”
He emphasized that the governor, known for his deep appreciation of innovation and technology, has gone beyond rhetoric to actively support their integration across government structures and public services.
One major achievement, Ezeh said, is the introduction of e-governance through the establishment of digital infrastructure aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement across ministries and government departments.
He added, “Through the Ministry, Gov. Mbah introduced Geographic Information System (GIS) to the Ministry of Lands; and the system capabilities can help the state optimise land administration processes, prevent encroachment and support sustainable development initiatives.”
The commissioner also highlighted collaborative innovation projects, including a partnership with the Project Development Institute (PRODA) to produce a multi-biomass briquette cooking stove.
This initiative addresses energy challenges while offering affordable and sustainable cooking solutions.
“In 2024, the state invested heavily in youth empowerment through skilling up and up-scaling in tech-innovation, through these youth empowerment programmes cultivated a vibrant ecosystem of innovation, enterprise, leadership and ensuring a prosperous future for generations to come,” he said.
Ezeh further revealed that the Ministry initiated the regulation of traditional medicine practice, aiming to enhance public health and bridge the gap between indigenous and modern healthcare.
“This is to safeguard public health, uphold ethical standards and promote collaboration between traditional healers and modern healthcare professionals,” he noted.
To consolidate its long-term tech vision, the state established Enugu Smart Tech Ltd., an independent entity in collaboration with e-School Africa.
The company will support the rollout of 260 Smart Schools, one in each ward, under construction across Enugu.
“This initiative effort between the state government and e-School Africa is set to revolutionise education through the provision of state-of-the-art tech devices to the 260 Smart schools currently under construction across the 260 wards in Enugu State,” he said.
He explained that the Smart Schools are designed to close the digital divide and ensure equal access to tech-enabled education for both rural and urban students.
The collaboration brings in technical expertise and a sustainable approach to digital learning.
On the promotion of traditional medicine innovation, the ministry recently organized a trade fair and introduced certification for traditional healers, fostering credibility, research, and economic empowerment.
“The Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Trade Fair was not just an exhibition, it was a reference point on how indigenous knowledge is treated in policy and practice,” Ezeh stated.
“The key impacts included: creating credibility and trust; economic empowerment; and research catalysis; as this initiative underscores the ministry’s broader philosophy: innovation doesn’t have to mean abandoning the old, it can also mean elevating it.”
Another groundbreaking innovation was the completion of the coal briquette stove, developed using Enugu’s abundant coal dust.
The commissioner described it as a “game-changer” for both households and small industries.
“The stove is a game-changer in more ways. Designed to use compressed coal dust, readily available in Enugu’s resource-rich terrain, it offers a cleaner, safer alternative to traditional firewood or inefficient stoves,” he said.
Ezeh noted its potential for broad adoption, citing benefits like environmental sustainability, affordability, and industrial utility, while positioning Enugu as a leader in local green technology solutions.
He also highlighted the successful hosting of the Enugu Tech Festival, which attracted more than 15,000 participants from across Nigeria.
The festival, he said, has become a critical platform for nurturing talent, fostering partnerships, and energizing the startup ecosystem.
“The three-day unprecedented event attended by over 15,000 participants nationwide included tech entrepreneurs, software developers, university researchers, and venture capitalists and it provided fertile ground for partnerships, networking and mentorships,” Ezeh stated.
He added that the event featured hackathons, pitch sessions, and innovation labs, producing real-time innovations and elevating Enugu’s status in the national tech space.
“Even as the festival’s success signals more than public enthusiasm, it reflects the administration’s ability to convene stakeholders and accelerate grassroots innovation,” he said.
In his concluding remarks, Ezeh lauded the governor’s visionary leadership for building a development model centered on ideas, sustainability, and self-reliance.
“Not simply reactive, but proactive. Not dependent on Federal allocations or donor aid but anchored in the power of ideas and local solutions. While challenges remain, scaling innovation, sustaining funding, and ensuring equitable digital access across rural zones, the trajectory is unmistakable,” he said.
“The foundational groundwork has been laid, and the future is being built with intentionality. The Future of tech-innovation is invented in Enugu State.
“Under the stewardship of Gov. Mbah and the ministry, Enugu State has emerged as a living laboratory for disruptive and transformative change, rooted in tradition, driven by technology, and propelled by public engagement.”
