The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Sterling One Foundation, has announced the second edition of Invest Lagos, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
The event will serve as a prelude to the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS), which will be held from Thursday, July 10 to Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Grand Ballroom and the Eko Convention Centre, respectively, both located within Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Proceedings will commence at 8:00 a.m. daily.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose, disclosed this at a press briefing held today at the Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
The high-profile events are being organised in collaboration with the United Nations System in Nigeria, the Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sterling Bank, and Arise News.
According to the Commissioner, this year’s Summit, themed “Scaling Action: Bold Solutions Towards Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy,” aligns with the state’s long-term vision as outlined in the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP 2052) and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s forward-thinking T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda.
“This summit represents our deliberate shift from aspiration to realisation, from potential to performance, and from mere dialogue to concrete developmental outcomes.
“It is a strategic platform aimed at mobilising impactful collaborations and catalytic partnerships by convening visionary investors, proactive policymakers, industry leaders, global stakeholders, and key development partners,” Ambrose stated.
A notable highlight of the summit will be the Deal Rooms, specially curated sessions where political leaders and senior officials from Lagos State Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will present well-structured investment pitches to both domestic and international investors.
These high-value matchmaking sessions are expected to generate substantial engagement and lead to strategic partnerships crucial for the state’s sustained economic growth and inclusive prosperity.
Ambrose identified several strategic sectors targeted for growth, including transformative civil infrastructure, integrated and sustainable transportation systems, technological innovation, healthcare, renewable energy, the creative and entertainment industry, real estate and construction, agribusiness, and the blue economy.
“We will collectively explore groundbreaking solutions to drive infrastructure development, creative financing, entrepreneurship support, and digital innovation, solidifying Lagos as the economic heartbeat of Africa,” she added.
The Commissioner also announced the forthcoming launch of the Lagos State Industrial Policy (LSIP 2025–2030), describing it as a visionary roadmap that will reposition the state’s industrial landscape, boost productivity, attract targeted investments, enhance competitiveness, and transform Lagos into Africa’s leading industrial powerhouse.
Also speaking at the event, Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, applauded the partnership, describing it as a demonstration of SDG 17 in action.
“No single entity can achieve sustainable development alone. Our collective effort and close collaboration with all stakeholders are key to accelerating the attainment of the Goals,” she said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Mrs. Peju Ibekwe, described Lagos as one of the continent’s top investment destinations and Africa’s leading innovation hub.
She revealed that over $100 million in impact investments were secured during last year’s summit and expressed optimism that even more projects will materialise this year.
Highlighting a major outcome of the previous summit, Ibekwe noted that “The 2024 Lagos Investment Roundtable resulted in the signing of a multi-million dollar Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Lagos and the Abu Dhabi Ports Authority.”
“2025 marks the midpoint of the United Nations’ Decade of Action, and time is fast running out before 2030. That’s why we’ve joined forces with other stakeholders to drive more impact investment into scalable and sustainable solutions,” she concluded.
