Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on the 56 member states of the Commonwealth of Nations to channel investments into Africa, particularly Lagos, urging them to bring capital, technology and expertise to the continent’s most populous city.
As stated in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu made the call in his keynote addrees at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit held at the historic Mansion House.
According to Akosile, the governor addressed an audience that included Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Lord Marland; Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Shirley Botchwey; Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ian Borg; and the Lord Mayor of the City of London Corporation, Susan Langley, emphasising that the Commonwealth’s true strength lies in its people.
He assured global investors that Lagos offers not only a vast market, but also credible partnerships and long-term relationships.
“The Commonwealth’s greatest advantage is not simply its shared language, shared laws or shared history, but its people. And nowhere is that advantage more vivid, dynamic or consequential than in Africa,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu noted that Africa’s demographic growth makes it central to global economic strategy, stressing that by 2050, one in four people in the world will be African.
“If the Commonwealth is to remain relevant, not merely as a sentimental compact, but as a genuine engine of global trade and investment, then, Africa must be central to its strategy. And within Africa, Lagos must be part of that conversation,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu pointed to rising global uncertainties, including trade tensions and geopolitical instability, as reasons for stronger intra-Commonwealth economic collaboration.
“We live in an age of fracturing, of retreating globalisation, of tariff walls rising like storm barricades, and of geopolitical uncertainty that rattles supply chains and spooks investors. In such a moment, the Commonwealth offers something rare and valuable: a network built not on fear, but on trust,” he said.
Highlighting opportunities in Africa, he expressed support for the African Continental Free Trade Area, describing it as a transformative platform capable of creating the world’s largest single market by GDP coverage.
According to him, Lagos has positioned itself as a prime investment destination through sustained infrastructure development.
“We are investing in our ports, our airport, our rail corridors, and our technology infrastructure because we understand that to attract global capital, you must first build the foundations that make capital feel at home,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
The governor reiterated that Lagos remains Nigeria’s economic hub, accounting for roughly one-third of the nation’s GDP, and outlined his administration’s achievements under the THEMES+ agenda.
“Our Blue Line and Red Line rail projects are now operational, the first metro rail system in West Africa. We are about to commission one of the continent’s largest children’s hospitals, and we are digitising our revenue and land administration systems,” he said.
He added that the state has continued to expand investments in road infrastructure, water, security, and social inclusion, while leveraging public-private partnerships to drive growth.
“Our T.H.E.M.E.S.+ Agenda is not a campaign document; it is a governance architecture. And I say to every investor in this room: that architecture is open for business,” he declared.
Sanwo-Olu also used the platform to announce the upcoming Invest in Lagos 3.0, the state’s flagship investment summit, scheduled for June 8 and 9 at Eko Hotels & Suites.
“Invest in Lagos is not a conference; it is a transaction platform. It is how Lagos formally engages the global investment community, presenting our economic potential, policy environment, and bankable opportunities,” he said.
He explained that this year’s edition, being organised in partnership with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, will attract a broader range of international investors.
“Invest in Lagos 3.0 represents a decisive step forward in scale and ambition. This partnership will expand its reach, deepen its impact, and firmly situate Lagos within the broader architecture of Commonwealth trade and investment,” he added.
Also speaking at the summit, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, participated in a plenary session titled “Mobilising Capital for Growth in Emerging Markets,” where she outlined practical steps Lagos is taking to attract and sustain investments.
