Lagos State has reaffirmed its position as Nigeria’s leading investment destination, unveiling strategic partnerships and an investment deal book at the fourth edition of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Invest Nigeria Conference and Expo.
Representing Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu at the two-day conference, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Hon. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, said the State was focused not only on attracting capital but also on building strong institutional structures that would enable private investment to contribute meaningfully to economic development.
Ambrose-Medebem described Lagos as a market, gateway and ecosystem that brings together manufacturers, talent, technology and entrepreneurship. She said the State was deliberately pursuing investments that create jobs, strengthen local businesses and position Lagos within regional value chains. She also urged businesses to take advantage of opportunities presented by Lagos hosting CANEX 2026 and the Intra-African Trade Fair in 2027.
The Commissioner highlighted the importance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), noting that the Lagos State Office of Public-Private Partnerships signed a two-year cooperation agreement with the Hong Kong Institution of Public-Private Partnerships in January 2026 to strengthen technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and investment partnerships. She added that four PPP concession agreements covering healthcare, transportation, digital governance and public asset management were signed in July.
She also disclosed that Lagos scored 87 per cent at an Enabling Business Forum, placing the State among the top performers in business environment rankings. To translate investment opportunities into concrete projects, the State Government unveiled the Lagos Investment Deal Book at the 2025 Lagos Investment Summit 2.0, featuring bankable projects across transportation, healthcare, sustainable energy, innovation, technology and the green economy.
Ambrose-Medebem challenged participants to measure the success of the conference by its tangible outcomes, including new partnerships, project financing, removal of regulatory bottlenecks and job creation. She stressed that feedback from the private sector remained essential to refining government policies and assured investors of the State’s commitment to transparent and constructive engagement.
In his opening address, the Convener and President of LCCI, Engr. Leye Kupoluyi, commended the Lagos State Government for its investment drive and described the conference as a collaborative initiative involving the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
Kupoluyi said Nigeria, with its large market and entrepreneurial population, must do more to convert its opportunities in manufacturing, technology, energy, healthcare and agriculture into sustainable economic growth. He called for stronger frameworks to maximise investment returns and encouraged investors to explore emerging opportunities, including commercial agriculture and the application of artificial intelligence in automated manufacturing.
Delivering the keynote remarks on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s business environment. She highlighted ongoing reforms and investments in power, transportation, aviation and technology, as well as major domestic projects and strategic international partnerships.
The Minister also highlighted the Electricity Act 2023, which has expanded opportunities for state-level and private-sector participation in the power sector. She reiterated Nigeria’s plans to host CANEX in November 2026 and the Intra-African Trade Fair in November 2027, describing the events as opportunities to further strengthen Nigeria’s position as a gateway for investment and trade across Africa.
The conference, convened by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, continues to provide a platform for government and the private sector to identify investment opportunities, forge partnerships and develop practical solutions for economic growth, with Lagos reiterating its commitment to turning investment potential into shared prosperity.
