Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the state as a land of opportunity where dreams come true, saying many who arrive with nothing often become success stories through the state’s vibrant economy and supportive policies.
Speaking at Harvard Business School in the United States on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Sanwo-Olu showcased Lagos as a thriving destination for investment, innovation, and infrastructure development.
He was a guest lecturer in Professor Hakeem Belo-Osagie’s course, Understanding Africa: Business, Entrepreneurship, Political Economy and the Complexities of a Continent.
“Lagos is a place where people come in without anything and become somebody. We are a business and commercial powerhouse,” Sanwo-Olu told an audience of international students.
The governor’s presentation, titled ‘Building the Future: Lagos State Infrastructure-led Transformation’, highlighted the state’s 30-year development plan, anchored on human-centric growth and economic expansion.
With a GDP of $259bn, a population exceeding 25 million, and four major seaports, Lagos, according to Sanwo-Olu, continues to attract global attention due to its strategic location and forward-looking policies.
He cited major strides in transportation, such as the Blue and Red Rail Lines. The Blue Line, Africa’s first intra-city rail service, has already transported over two million passengers, averaging 42,000 daily commuters.
Plans are also underway for a new airport along the Lekki-Epe Expressway and a Green Line rail project to connect more parts of the state.
On housing, Sanwo-Olu said over 3,000 housing units have been delivered, while more than 1,000 roads have been constructed or rehabilitated to ease urban mobility.
The governor also emphasized Lagos’ growing status as a tech hub. The idea, he stressed, is to have a big pool of tech personnel so that if Microsoft or Amazon is looking for 10,000 to hire, Lagos will be the place to go.
Sanwo-Olu noted that nearly 60 percent of Lagos’ population is made up of tech-savvy youth.
In education, two new universities have been established, and a third—focused on medical sciences—is in the works to bridge healthcare workforce gaps.
Sanwo-Olu also highlighted ongoing healthcare projects, including a mental health and rehabilitation centre and what will become the largest children’s hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Tourism and culture were not left out. The governor said Lagos is positioning itself as a creative capital with festivals, fashion shows, and internationally recognized films, one of which has been nominated for the Cannes Film Festival.
Responding to questions on energy, Sanwo-Olu spoke on the recent unbundling of Nigeria’s power sector, saying Lagos now has the authority to license private players in generation, distribution, and transmission.
“We can give you a licence. The system has been unbundled. We can concession an area for you,” he said.
He encouraged investors to look to Lagos for opportunities. “Some markets are saturated. They have built all the infrastructure they need; we are still building. Lagos is the place to invest,” Sanwo-Olu declared.
