The successful conclusion of Invest Lagos Summit 3.0 has reaffirmed Lagos State as Africa’s premier business gateway, attracting global investors, development partners, and strategic institutions, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day summit held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Sanwo-Olu emphasized that the event went beyond theoretical discussions, yielding real investment commitments, partnerships, and signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
“At the start of this summit, we asked: ‘Is Lagos the Business Gateway to Africa?’ Today, the answer is a resounding yes,” he said, noting that the agreements signed during the summit were actionable instruments designed to generate jobs, deliver projects, and boost prosperity.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the post-summit investment conversion framework, which will track and monitor commitments, stressing that success is measured by implementation, not just discussions.
One of the summit’s key highlights was the Governors’ Investment Showcase, where governors from Lagos, Abia, Imo, Nasarawa, and Plateau States presented investment opportunities aligned with their states’ comparative advantages. “This is a practical demonstration of a Nigeria open for business, committed to reform, and competing for global capital,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor also showcased critical infrastructure projects transforming Lagos’ economic landscape, including the Blue and Red Rail Lines, Lekki International Airport, port modernization initiatives, and energy investments. He noted that these projects are funded, under implementation, and strategically positioned to attract investors.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) further strengthens Lagos’ role as a strategic gateway, connecting investors to Nigeria, Africa, and global markets. With a market exceeding 1.4 billion people and a GDP over $3 trillion, Lagos occupies a uniquely strategic position.
The summit recognized international partners, including the European Union, UNDP, Afreximbank, Agence Française de Développement, British International Investment, and the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, for supporting Lagos’ investment agenda.
Sanwo-Olu also highlighted Lagos’ creative economy—Afrobeats, Nollywood, fashion, and digital content creation—as a key competitive advantage, driving jobs, exports, and global recognition.
He reaffirmed Lagos’ credibility built through consistent policy implementation and infrastructure delivery since 2019, noting reforms in transportation, ease of doing business, digital governance, and investment facilitation frameworks.
Visiting investors will tour strategic economic assets, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Lekki Free Zone, ports, industrial clusters, and manufacturing facilities, Sanwo-Olu said, describing Lagos as a city already transforming at scale.
“Africa’s Business Gateway is open, and the world is welcomed,” the governor concluded, positioning Lagos as a central hub for investment and economic growth across Africa.
