Lagos targets global capital with ambitious economic agenda

The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans for the Third Edition of the Invest in Lagos Summit, positioning the gathering as a major platform to attract international investors.

The summit, the State Government said, will deepen economic partnerships and reinforce its status as Africa’s leading commercial hub.

The summit, with the theme: “Lagos Business Gateway to Africa: Where Innovation Meets Capital,” will take hold from June 8 to 9, 2026, with an additional industrial and infrastructure tour planned for June 10, 2026.

Unveiling the summit at a media briefing yesterday in Lagos, the organisers described “Invest in Lagos 3.” as a strategic economic intervention designed to unlock new investment opportunities, accelerate industrialisation and strengthen Lagos’ place in the global economic landscape.

The summit is put together by the State Government in collaboration with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council as well as several institutional and private sector partners.
Officials said the event would serve as a global meeting point for policymakers, multinational corporations, sovereign wealth funds, development finance institutions, innovators, entrepreneurs and investors seeking opportunities across key sectors of the Lagos economy.

They noted that the summit has evolved beyond a conventional conference into a strategic platform for policy dialogue, capital mobilisation, investment matchmaking and economic collaboration.
According to the organisers, the maiden edition, known as the Lagos Investment Roundtable, helped establish Lagos as a globally competitive economy with a clear reform agenda and investor-focused policies, while the second edition attracted international delegations and investment promotion agencies from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Co-chair of the summit’s Technical and Programmes Committee, Dr. Toyosi Akinyemi-Oshige, described the event as potentially “the defining investment convening for Africa in this decade.”
He disclosed that participants expected at the event will include at least 28,000 delegates from more than 50 Commonwealth countries, making it one of the largest investment gatherings on the continent.
Akinyemi-Oshige stated that unlike traditional conferences often limited to speeches and networking, Invest in Lagos 3.0 would prioritise measurable outcomes through technology-driven coordination and real-time engagement systems.

According to him, the summit will leverage digital dashboards, live intelligence systems and virtual engagement tools to improve participation and investment tracking throughout the event.
He added that youth entrepreneurship and innovation would form a central pillar of the summit, stressing that Lagos remains Africa’s leading startup ecosystem and a major hub for technology-driven businesses.

Officials disclosed that Invest in Lagos 2.0 generated curated investment portfolios valued at more than N800 billion across eight priority sectors and was projected to create approximately 80,000 jobs over a three-to-five-year period.

The previous edition also facilitated strategic memoranda of understanding, public-private partnerships and high-level deal room discussions on industrialisation, infrastructure financing, manufacturing, transportation, digital economy, logistics, sustainable urban development and the creative industry.

Speaking on the objectives of this year’s summit, organisers said Invest in Lagos 3.0 would build on those achievements with stronger implementation frameworks, deeper global engagement and more practical investment outcomes.

They described Lagos as the centre of Africa’s economic story, citing its population of over 23 million people, expanding transportation network, rapidly growing innovation ecosystem, industrial capacity and strategic maritime infrastructure as major attractions for investors.

According to them, Lagos remains uniquely positioned as the preferred destination for manufacturing, technology, finance, trade and enterprise development on the continent.

The summit will include executive roundtables, sector-focused investment dialogues, exhibitions, networking engagements and business-to-business meetings aimed at connecting investors directly with government institutions and private sector players.
One of the major highlights expected at the summit is the Governor’s Investment Showcase Panel, where state governors from across Nigeria will present targeted investment opportunities directly to international investors, development agencies and business leaders.
The session is expected to facilitate direct engagement between public officials and global capital providers on strategic projects capable of driving economic growth across the country.
The organisers confirmed that several high-profile international and local figures would participate in the summit, including the Chair of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Lord Marland, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole and the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Several leading corporations and investment institutions are also expected to participate, including Dangote Group, Julius Berger Nigeria, Olam Group, Alaro City and the Lekki Free Zone.
Organisers revealed that thematic discussions at the summit would focus on critical sectors considered essential to Lagos’ long-term economic growth. These include infrastructure and urban development, manufacturing and industrialisation, agriculture and food systems, technology and digital economy, blue economy, tourism, energy, logistics, financial services, real estate and SME development.
Special investment sessions will also spotlight emerging opportunities within Lagos’ economic zone agenda, including industrial parks, export-oriented manufacturing hubs, innovation districts and climate-focused infrastructure projects.
As part of efforts to integrate young people into the investment ecosystem, students from major tertiary institutions, including Lagos State University, will participate in managing digital command centres that will provide remote access to plenary sessions, keynote speeches and panel discussions for global audiences.
In another major innovation, organisers announced plans to introduce podcast studios and media engagement sections at the summit to amplify conversations around investment, tourism, culture and entrepreneurship in Lagos.
Beyond the conference sessions, foreign delegates are expected to embark on guided tours of major industrial and infrastructure projects across Lagos on June 10.
The tours will include visits to the Dangote Refinery, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Blue and Red Rail Lines and the RussellSmith 3D Printing and Manufacturing Centre.
Organisers said the tours are intended to give international investors firsthand experience of Lagos’ ongoing transformation and infrastructural development.
Stakeholders at the briefing also emphasised the significance of the partnership between Lagos and the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, noting that it reflects growing international confidence in Nigeria and Africa as emerging investment frontiers.
They argued that the collaboration sends a strong signal to global investors that Lagos is increasingly becoming a strategic gateway into African markets.
The summit will also feature investment pavilions and sector-specific deal rooms where startups, businesses, state governments and investors can negotiate partnerships, showcase projects and secure financing opportunities.
According to the organisers, the pavilions will provide opportunities for companies, associations and institutions to host side events, display investment opportunities and interact directly with potential investors.
Special participation categories have also been created for startups, media organisations, strategic partners and sponsors.
Officials used the opportunity to call on residents, businesses, investors, diplomatic missions and members of the international community to participate actively in the summit, describing it as a collective effort to showcase Lagos as a modern, inclusive and future-ready smart city.
They expressed optimism that the summit would strengthen investor confidence, attract fresh domestic and foreign direct investments, facilitate strategic partnerships and generate employment opportunities capable of driving long-term prosperity in Lagos and across Nigeria.
“As a government, we remain fully committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive through reforms, infrastructure development, digital transformation and improved ease of doing business,” the organisers stated.
They added that under the leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu, Lagos continues to pursue an ambitious economic agenda focused on resilience, innovation, industrial growth and global competitiveness.
Interested participants, investors and media organisations were advised to direct accreditation, enquiries and correspondence to the summit.
With expectations already building ahead of the summit, stakeholders believe Invest in Lagos 3.0 could become one of the most significant economic and investment gatherings ever hosted on the African continent, while further cementing Lagos’ reputation as the business gateway to Africa.