State government eyes global capital inflows as it moves to position Lagos as Africa’s premier hub for trade, finance, and industrial growth….
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to attract about $2.5 billion in local and foreign investments at the upcoming Invest in Lagos 3.0 Summit, as part of efforts to deepen the state’s status as Africa’s leading destination for business and capital inflows.
Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, made the disclosure during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.
She said the summit, scheduled for June 8 to 10, 2026, at the Eko Hotels and Suites Convention Centre in Victoria Island, will convene more than 600 high-level delegates, including global investors, financial institutions, diplomats, governors, and industry leaders.
According to her, the event tagged “The Business Gateway to Africa” serves as the flagship investment promotion platform of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration and is designed to unlock large-scale economic opportunities across key sectors of the Lagos economy.
Ambrose-Medebem explained that the state, in partnership with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), is targeting high-value investment deals, infrastructure financing, and development partnerships estimated at $2.5 billion.
She said the summit is expected to drive transactions across priority sectors such as infrastructure, trade, manufacturing, and financial services, while strengthening Lagos’ position as a subnational leader in investment attraction and economic innovation.
Beyond deal-making, she noted that the summit will also serve as a pre-event engagement for the Africa Social Impact Summit, further reinforcing Lagos’ ambition to become a central hub for continental economic collaboration.
The commissioner added that the initiative aligns with the Lagos State Development Plan 2052 and the Lagos State Industrial Policy 2025–2030, both of which are aimed at transforming the state into Africa’s leading manufacturing and commercial powerhouse.
In the lead-up to the summit, she said the government has intensified international investor outreach across Europe and other strategic markets, engaging stakeholders in finance, development, and industry.
“We are engaging investors across Europe and beyond,” she said, noting that participation is expected to include over 600 delegates comprising heads of international institutions, diplomats, governors, and private sector leaders.
Ambrose-Medebem also highlighted ongoing programmes aimed at strengthening Lagos’ business ecosystem, particularly for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
She pointed to the Lagos State Export Readiness Programme (LASERP), implemented in collaboration with Afreximbank and ImpactHER, which has already trained 253 MSMEs in export readiness, product standardisation, digital transformation, and access to international markets.
According to her, 20 top-performing participants were selected as Lagos Trade Champions and sponsored by the state to exhibit Made-in-Lagos products at the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair in Algiers.
She also revealed that the state has begun onboarding partners for the Lagos State Access to Finance for MSMEs through Cooperatives programme (LASMECO), aimed at improving funding access for cooperative-based businesses.
The commissioner further noted that a statewide application process will soon open for MSMEs seeking financial support under the initiative.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to economic expansion, Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos will continue to implement policies that strengthen trade, support entrepreneurs, expand cooperatives, and broaden opportunities across both formal and informal sectors.
