Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has positioned Lagos as a top target for international capital and urged Commonwealth countries to direct investment into Africa, especially Lagos.
Gbenga Akosile, the governor’s special adviser on media and publicity, signed the statement on Monday.
In her keynote address at the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit, which took place on Monday at Mansion House in London, Sanwo-Olu informed representatives from all 56 members of the bloc that Lagos provides long-term partnership in addition to opportunity.
“Nowhere is that advantage more vivid, dynamic, or consequential than in Africa,” he added. “The Commonwealth’s greatest advantage is not simply its shared language, shared laws, or shared history, but its people.”
The governor emphasized that Africa must shift from the periphery to the center of international investment discussions, framing the continent as essential to the bloc’s future.
Africa must be at the center of the Commonwealth’s strategy if it is to continue being relevant—not just as a sentimental pact, but as a true engine of international trade and investment. And Lagos needs to be included in that discussion within Africa,” he stated.
Sanwo-Olu emphasized how economic and demographic factors shaped the claim, pointing out that “Africa is home to the world’s youngest population.” One in four persons on the planet will be African by the year 2050.
He also highlighted the size of the Commonwealth, stating that its “56 member states with a combined population of 2.7 billion” offer a solid foundation for trade based on common ideals.
He declared, “We live in an age of fracturing, of retreating globalization, of tariff walls rising like storm barricades.” “The Commonwealth offers something unique and valuable in such a moment: a network built on trust rather than fear.”
He claims that through policy and infrastructure changes, Lagos is already setting the stage for attracting investment.
“We understand that in order to attract global capital, you must first build the foundations that make capital feel at home, which is why Lagos is investing in its port, airport, rail corridors, and technology infrastructure,” he stated.
Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial center, according to the governor, who also mentioned the state’s strong economy.
Nigeria’s economic hub is Lagos. It contributes almost one-third of Nigeria’s GDP and would be in the top five in sub-Saharan Africa if it were an independent country, he stated.
Along with social inclusion and young empowerment, he continued, his administration’s THEMES+ program is promoting development in important areas including transportation, health, education, and security.
Our T.H.E.M.E.S.+ Agenda is not a platform for a campaign. It is an architecture for governance. Sanwo-Olu added, “And I tell every investor in this room: that architecture is open for business.”
The governor also declared that, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Lagos would host the “Invest in Lagos 3.0” event on June 8 and 9 at Eko Hotels and Suites.
“Investing in Lagos is not a meeting. “It is a transaction platform,” he stated, characterizing it as a crucial channel for attracting international investors and presenting bankable prospects in many industries.
Speaking as well, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, described Lagos’ plan for raising money and strengthening ties with foreign partners.