Lagos To Host Biggest Commonwealth Investors’ Summit This June – Here’s What’s On The Agenda

According to Ireporter Online, Lagos State is set to host the largest gathering of foreign investors from Commonwealth countries this June, following the formalization of a strategic partnership with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC). Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and CWEIC Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Samantha Cohen, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a joint press briefing at the State House in Marina, unveiling plans for the 2026 Lagos Trade and Investment Summit, tagged “Invest in Lagos 3.0.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu described the collaboration as a testament to Lagos State’s commitment to positioning itself as a competitive sub-national economy capable of attracting and converting investment into measurable growth. He emphasized that the summit, scheduled for two days at Eko Hotels Convention Centre in Victoria Island, is expected to host over 600 investors, including development finance institutions, from across the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth, comprising 56 countries with a combined population of 2.7 billion and a GDP of $14.2 trillion projected to reach $20 trillion by 2029, has its private sector arm, CWEIC, operating 150 strategic partners across 35 countries, including Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu highlighted that “Invest in Lagos 3.0” is designed as a transaction-focused platform, aimed at structured capital mobilization, disciplined project presentation, and measurable investment outcomes. He said the summit will convene high-level delegates, including global institutional investors, sovereign wealth entities, multinational corporations, structured finance specialists, trade networks across the Commonwealth, and senior public sector leaders, representing one of the most concentrated assemblies of capital and strategic investment interest for a single African sub-national economy.

Through the summit, Lagos aims to strengthen its capacity to mobilize global capital, deepen cross-border trade relationships, and attract transformative investments. The Governor noted that the event would provide global profiling for Lagos International Financial Centre and facilitate structured investment matchmaking to connect project sponsors with capital providers. Key sectors highlighted include transport infrastructure, logistics and port connectivity, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, housing, healthcare, industrial growth corridors, and support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which account for over 70 percent of economic activity in Lagos.

Cohen added that Nigeria remains the strongest Commonwealth network outside the UK, noting the partnership provides Lagos an advantage of up to 21 percent for business engagement with member countries due to shared legal systems, language, and trusted relationships. She emphasized that the summit aligns with Lagos State’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda and the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, covering infrastructure, financial services, trade, energy, industrial development, innovation, and human capital.

The summit will feature plenary sessions, business roundtables, a Deal Room, closed-door meetings between CEOs and the Governor, as well as dinners and site visits. Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Banda-Ambrose, described the collaboration as a defining moment for Lagos, expected to deepen investment inflows, stimulate private sector growth, and accelerate economic transformation.

The press briefing followed a courtesy visit by the CWEIC team, led by Cohen, to Governor Sanwo-Olu, accompanied by senior CWEIC officials, including Country Chairman Mr. Olasupo Shasore, SAN, Advisory Board member Mr. Ayo Otuyalo, and Director Mr. Obinna Anyanwu.