Lagos Technocrats back Obafemi Hamzat for 2027 governorship race; roll out AI, health agenda

A coalition of professionals under the aegis of Lagos Technocrats for Hamzat has endorsed Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, for the 2027 governorship election, describing him as the most competent candidate to drive the state’s next phase of development.
​The group announced its position on Tuesday during a press conference in Lagos. It also unveiled a series of grassroots initiatives, including artificial intelligence training, teacher development, free healthcare outreaches, and youth empowerment schemes to support its vision of technology-driven governance.
​Speaking at the event, the Convener of the group, Dr. Mike Oladunjoye Egbayelo, stated that Lagos requires a leader whose track record extends beyond politics to core competence and measurable innovation.
​Egbayelo, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Excellerate Business School, noted that the coalition comprises professionals from engineering, healthcare, tech, public policy, and academia.
He revealed that the group will embark on statewide engagements with professional bodies, market leaders, artisans, and students to build support for Hamzat.
​The coalition has set a target to register 50,000 technocrats across Lagos via an online portal. Concurrently, it is launching an “Upskill 10,000″ initiative to train residents in AI, data analytics, solar panel installation, leather works, and garment making.
​”We believe governance should increasingly be driven by innovation, strategic planning, technology, transparency, and measurable outcomes. We also plan to train 1,000 teachers in modern pedagogy, organise free medical missions across the state’s three senatorial districts, and introduce a blindness prevention programme, ” Egbayelo said.
​Co-convener Dr. Tim Akano, Managing Director of New Horizons Ltd, added that Lagos has the potential to become Africa’s leading AI hub if deliberate investments are made in digital infrastructure.
​Addressing why technocrats—who traditionally stay out of politics—are getting involved, Akano pointed to shifting global economic realities and stricter international migration barriers. He argued that building a technology-driven local economy is the most sustainable way to create opportunities for young Nigerians and reduce the pressure to emigrate (the Japa phenomenon).
​Egbayelo dismissed concerns about funding or potential fractionalisation along ethnic and religious lines, asserting that the coalition is self-funded through personal contributions and built strictly on professional values rather than political patronage.
​The endorsement comes as political consultations ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election gather momentum, with various stakeholder groups beginning to align behind key frontrunners.