The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader, Dr. Dayo Israel, alongside Zonal Youth Leaders from across Nigeria, paid a historic visit to the iconic SAIL Innovation Lab in Ikorodu on Monday, commending the visionary leadership of Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, in promoting digital tech training, innovation, and youth empowerment.
The SAIL Innovation Lab, established by the SAIL Empowerment Foundation, a brainchild of Senator Abiru and his wife, Feyisola, has become a model of digital transformation in Lagos State, and beyond.
The lab stands as one of the most impactful community-driven tech initiatives in Nigeria, offering training in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Marketing , Game Development and Software Engineering to hundreds of young people in Lagos East Senatorial District,and across the nation.
Senator Abiru, who welcomed the delegation, expressed gratitude for the visit and reiterated his belief that the key to sustainable development lies in preparing young Nigerians for the realities of a knowledge-based global economy.
“In setting up SAIL Innovation Lab,” Abiru said, “we envisioned a space where human capital development of young people can be developed, and make them globally competitive. This is not a fluke, it is real. What we are doing is complementing part of the vision of our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and it is all about how we can enhance the capacity of our youth. More importantly at a time when the entire world has switched on to the fourth industrial economy. We are also ensuring that people at the grassroot are also carried along”.
He noted that the Lab, which is free for all participants, has produced hundreds of alumni who are now engaged in gainful employment, while others have ventured into tech entrepreneurship, creating their own businesses. It is clear that with the right investments, Nigeria’s youth can compete with anyone in the world,” he said.
Visibly impressed, Israel commended Senator Abiru for what he described as a “ remarkable service, rooted in impact, substance, and sustainability.” He said, “ We have seen a lot more here. To see a Senator who has done wonderfully well in the area of tech and innovation development is a great source of joy for us. We encourage other legislators across the country to replicate this commendable initiative.
“ We commend Senator Abiru for this great work he has done, for thousands of young people that have been empowered, being put into jobs, to be able to scale. This is what we need across the country. Imagine if we have 109 of this across the country, the impact will really be massive. This (Senator Abiru) is a role model, a pacesetter, which other legislators need to emulate. We thank him for doing beyond the usual empowerment, he is providing lifelong skills that will enable young people to provide for themselves and that of their family”.
He further emphasized that the future of politics belongs to leaders who invest in innovation and digital capacity. “It’s clear that Senator Abiru is not just representing Lagos East in the Senate,he’s representing a new era of public service. From the classrooms to the labs, we are witnessing hope in action”, adding that the APC’s renewed hope agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be anchored on practical, forward-thinking models like SAIL Innovation Lab, which bridge the gap between Nigeria’s enormous youth population and the global tech ecosystem.
Hon. Dayo Israel and his team were taken on a guided tour of the state-of-the-art facility, where they observed firsthand the world-class faculty, the commitment of participants, and the dynamic learning environment cultivated at the Lab. The energy was palpable as participants demonstrated digital skills, and shared personal stories of transformation, a testament to the possibilities that emerge when youth are empowered with knowledge and tools.
Also speaking during the tour, APC Zonal Youth Leader (South West), Comrade Lawal Paff Kolade, echoed the thoughts of all the zonal leaders representing different geopolitical regions of the country, praising the initiative and calling for its replication across the country. “What we’ve seen here is a blueprint. If more Senators or elected officials did just 10% of this, our unemployment rates would drop, and our national outlook would change dramatically”, Kolade noted.
The SAIL Empowerment Foundation, Chief Impact Officer, Deji Abisola, reiterated the impact of the foundation in the area of tech and sports. He said Senator Abiru’s commitment to developing young people is not in doubt, adding that additional 5,000 teachers across Nigeria will be trained, in partnership with MTN Foundation.
A leading policy strategist, and faculty at the renowned Lagos Business School, Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje, lauded the initiative, describing it as groundbreaking, he said the platform provided by the Senator was needed for national transformation.
Special Adviser to Senator Abiru on Constituency Matters and Board member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Dr. Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle, alongside other dignitaries were present at the event.