Lagos State has taken the Centre Stage at the fourth edition (4:0) of the LCCI Invest Nigeria Conference and Expo, with Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Hon. Folashade Bada Ambrose‑Medebem, outlining a comprehensive roadmap to transform the State into Africa’s Premier Investment Destination.
The Governor’s representative, Hon. Ambrose-Medebem, declared that Lagos is not merely seeking Capital, but is building the Institutional Structures that enable Private Capital to participate meaningfully in Economic development. “Our objective is not consuming the future; we manufacture it, foster it, advance it as a leading network. We are deliberate in everything we do,” she stated, emphasising that the State wants Investment that creates jobs and positions Lagos businesses within regional value chains.
Hon. Ambrose‑Medebem highlighted Lagos’ threefold identity as a Market, a Gateway, and an Ecosystem – a convergence point for Manufacturers, Talent, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. “Our youths are not waiting for investment; they are creating it. Lagos can demonstrate that culture can become commerce and creativity can become revenue,” she said, urging Local Businesses to seize upcoming opportunities when Lagos hosts CANEX 2026 and IATF 2027.
The Commissioner underscored the critical role of Public‑Private Partnerships (PPPs), revealing that in January 2026, the Lagos State Office of Public‑Private Partnerships signed a two‑year cooperation agreement with the Hong Kong Institution of Public‑Private Partnerships to strengthen technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, and investment‑aligned partnerships. In July, Lagos also inked four PPP concession agreements covering Healthcare, Transportation, Digital Governance, and Public Asset Management.
She acknowledged that Lagos scored 87% at an Enabling Business Forum, earning the State top ranking in the Business World. To move from rhetoric to action, the Government unveiled the Lagos Investment Deal Book at the 2025 Lagos Investment Summit 2.0 – a portfolio of bankable projects across Transportation, Healthcare, Sustainable Energy, Innovation, Technology, and the Green Economy. “The purpose was simple: to move the conversation from ‘Lagos has opportunities’ to ‘Here are the projects; here is the value proposition; here is the pathway for engagement,’” she explained.
The Governor’s representative challenged participants to judge the Conference, not by attendance but by tangible outcomes: partnerships formed, projects financed, regulatory bottlenecks removed, and jobs created.
She reiterated that Private Sector feedback is essential for Policy refinement, and that the Government remains committed to honest, transparent engagement with Investors.
In his opening address, the Convener and President of LCCI, Engr. Leye Kupoluyi, applauded the Honourable Commissioner as the “Image Governor of Lagos State” and described the Conference as a collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
He noted that Lagos State, with over 200 million people and an Entrepreneurial spirit across Manufacturing, Technology, Energy, and Healthcare, must convert opportunities into stable economic growth.
Engr. Kupoluyi stressed the need to tell the Nigerian story directly to foreign investors, thus positioning Nigeria as Africa’s epicentre.
The LCCI President called for frameworks that maximise investment returns, highlighting 80% arable land for commercial farming, the role of Artificial Intelligence in automated factories, and the importance of sub‑national delegations, further extending an invitation to the African Commercial Conference in November 2026 to encourage participants to identify concrete opportunities, build long‑term partnerships, and position Nigeria as a core investment hub.
Delivering the keynote remarks on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Honourable Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole ( MFR), reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business. She announced that 25% of reform commitments are now being implemented, with visible investments in Power, Transportation, Aviation, and Technology, alongside landmark domestic projects such as the Dangote Refinery and UAC’s acquisition of Chi Limited.
She highlighted the Electricity Act 2023, which has opened space for state-level and Private Investment in power, and the Strategic Partnerships with the UAE, reiterating that Nigeria will host CANEX in November 2026 and the Intra‑African Trade Fair in November 2027, further consolidating its position as a Prime Investment Gateway.
The two‑day Conference, convened by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, continues to serve as a platform for actionable dialogue, with a clear message from Lagos: the opportunities are here, the market is ready, and the Government is committed to turning investment potential into shared prosperity.
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