(Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem. Photo by BusinessDay)
Lagos State is gearing up to welcome over 1,000 investors from across the Commonwealth of Nations for a two-day business summit, with the state boldly positioning itself as the top investment destination on the African continent.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, announced that the summit themed “Lagos: Business Gateway to Africa” will be held on June 8 and 9, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites.
The event is being jointly organised by the Lagos State Government, the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, and a range of public and private sector partners.
The commissioner described the summit as having grown well beyond a standard investment conference, evolving into a broader platform for policy conversations, capital raising, investor matchmaking, and high-level global engagement.
She noted that the strong international turnout expected from Commonwealth member states and other regions is a reflection of the growing global confidence in Lagos as a serious hub for trade and enterprise.
Attendees are expected to include policymakers, multinational corporations, development finance institutions, entrepreneurs, innovators, and trade delegations from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
The programme will feature a mix of keynote addresses, plenary sessions, executive roundtables, sector-focused investment discussions, exhibitions, networking opportunities, and both business-to-business and business-to-government meetings.
The summit’s agenda will span a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, technology, the blue economy, tourism, energy transition, logistics, transportation, financial services, real estate, and small business development.
One of the flagship features of the event will be a governors’ investment showcase, designed to create direct dialogue between state governments, sovereign institutions, global investors, and development partners.
The commissioner made a strong case for Lagos as a critical economic bridge between Africa and the rest of the world, pointing to its massive consumer base, growing infrastructure, vibrant innovation scene, and strategic maritime assets.
She noted that with a GDP ranking among the highest of any city economy in Africa and a population of over 23 million, Lagos is uniquely suited to attract investment across finance, manufacturing, technology, and enterprise.
Ambrose-Medebem also reaffirmed the state government’s dedication to making Lagos more business-friendly through regulatory reforms, digital transformation, and infrastructure development all in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s broader economic vision.
The summit is expected to produce tangible outcomes, including investment frameworks, strategic agreements, and action plans aimed at accelerating job creation and long-term economic growth.
Adding to the briefing, Co-chairman of the Technical Committee on Invest Lagos 3.0, Toyosi Akerele, highlighted the role technology would play in this year’s edition. An AI-powered dashboard will allow participants around the world to follow sessions and keynote addresses in real time.
Notably, students from institutions including Lagos State University will manage the summit’s dashboard and command centre, as part of a deliberate effort to involve young people and build human capital.
Akerele also revealed that a dedicated podcast segment will give foreign delegates and development partners a platform to share their impressions of Lagos its culture, tourism appeal, and business climate.
Additionally, more than 400 international delegates are expected to take part in guided tours of major infrastructure and industrial sites on June 10, including the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Dangote Refinery, Dangote Fertiliser Plant, Lekki Deep Sea Port, and the RussellSmith 3D Printing and Manufacturing Centre.
The tours will also showcase Lagos’ transport infrastructure, notably the Blue Line and Red Line rail systems.
