Lagos stakes claim as Africa’s gateway for global investment

Lagos is intensifying its campaign to be recognized as Africa's leading hub for global capital, with President Bola Tinubu declaring the state an emerging gateway to international wealth, investment, and enterprise. Speaking at the opening of Invest Lagos 2026, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing Tinubu, stated that Lagos has transcended its role as Nigeria's commercial capital to become a strategic center for investors seeking access to Africa's growing markets.

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Lagos is not merely Nigeria’s commercial capital; it is increasingly becoming the gateway to Africa’s economic future.

"Lagos is not merely Nigeria’s commercial capital; it is increasingly becoming the gateway to Africa’s economic future," Shettima told delegates. He attributed the state's rising attractiveness to deliberate economic policies, robust institutions, and a business environment that consistently draws multinational corporations, technology firms, and foreign direct investment. The Vice President highlighted Nigeria's demographic advantages, entrepreneurial capacity, and economic potential, suggesting the nation could rank among the world's largest economies by 2050 with sustained investment in infrastructure, innovation, and human capital.

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Our vision is to build a Lagos that competes with the best cities in the world, where businesses can flourish, innovation can thrive, and investors can achieve long-term value.

The three-day Invest Lagos 2026 conference convened investors, policymakers, development partners, and business leaders to explore opportunities across key economic sectors. The theme, “Lagos: Business Gateway to Africa, Powering Africa’s Next Era of Trade, Talent and Global Economic Leadership,” underscored the city's ambitions. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reiterated Lagos's commitment to fostering a resilient economy capable of attracting both domestic and foreign investment through infrastructure expansion, regulatory reforms, and support for innovation. "Our vision is to build a Lagos that competes with the best cities in the world," he stated.

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The global economy is not just experiencing a passing period of turbulence; it is going through a structural shift.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey provided a broader perspective, noting that the global economy is undergoing a structural shift, not just a period of turbulence. Investors, she explained, are increasingly prioritizing trust, talent, regulatory certainty, and long-term growth potential over traditional profitability indicators. "The question is no longer simply where is the highest return. It is where is the trust, where is the talent, where is the regulatory confidence, where is the long-term growth story?" Botchwey asked. She identified Lagos as a city well-positioned to answer these questions, describing it as "a city of proof" that Africa's growth story is tangible and that African enterprise and youth can achieve global competitiveness.

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The question is no longer simply where is the highest return. It is where is the trust, where is the talent, where is the regulatory confidence, where is the long-term growth story?