Lagos State is set to welcome one of the largest gatherings of foreign investors from Commonwealth countries this June.
The announcement follows the formalisation of a strategic partnership between the Lagos State Government and the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC). Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and CWEIC CEO, Mrs. Samantha Cohen, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a press conference held at the State House, Marina, unveiling plans for the 2026 Lagos Trade and Investment Summit, themed “Invest in Lagos 3.0.”
The partnership reflects Lagos State’s commitment to positioning itself as a competitive sub-national economy capable of attracting and converting investment into measurable growth. The summit is expected to draw more than 600 investors, including development finance institutions, from across the Commonwealth. The two-day event will hold at the Eko Hotels Convention Centre in Victoria Island.
The Commonwealth, made up of 56 nations with a combined population of 2.7 billion and a GDP of $14.2 trillion (projected to reach $20 trillion by 2029), presents a significant opportunity for Lagos. CWEIC, its private sector arm, operates with 150 strategic partners in 35 countries, including investment hubs in Lagos.
Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted that Invest in Lagos 3.0 is designed to be a transaction-focused platform rather than a ceremonial gathering. “The summit is intentionally structured to support disciplined engagement between project sponsors and capital providers. Every element is geared toward measurable investment outcomes,” he said.
The summit will host between 500 and 600 high-level delegates, including global institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, multinational corporations, structured finance experts, trade networks, and senior public sector leaders. It will serve as a concentrated assembly of capital, policy influence, and strategic investment interest focused on Lagos.
Through this collaboration, Lagos aims to enhance its capacity to mobilise global capital, strengthen cross-border trade, and position itself as a premier destination for large-scale, transformative investment. Core objectives include profiling Lagos International Financial Centre as a regional financial hub and creating structured access for domestic enterprises seeking growth capital.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos will showcase bankable, investment-ready projects across priority sectors and facilitate structured investment matchmaking. The summit will support strategic projects in transport, logistics, ports, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, housing, healthcare, and industrial corridors, while also strengthening micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which contribute over 70% of Lagos’ economic activity.
CWEIC CEO Cohen noted that Nigeria remains the Commonwealth’s strongest network outside the UK, and the partnership offers Lagos the advantage of conducting business more efficiently with member countries due to shared legal systems, language, and trusted relationships.
She added that previous editions of Invest in Lagos established the city as a credible international investment destination, with the 2026 summit providing deeper thematic sector engagement. The summit will feature plenary sessions, business roundtables, a Deal Room, closed-door bilateral meetings, dinners, and site visits.
Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Banda-Ambrose, said the initiative comes at a pivotal moment in Lagos’ growth journey, underlining the city’s readiness to attract investment, expand the private sector, and accelerate economic transformation.
