Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says the state is reshaping the continent’s economic and urban development trajectory through rapid growth and innovation.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made this known while speaking at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum hosted by the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
According to the governor, Lagos attracted $2.73 billion in investments in the third quarter of 2025, representing about 45 percent of Nigeria’s total capital inflows during that period.
Sanwo-Olu further revealed that the state accounts for 35 percent of Nigeria’s Internally Generated Revenue, amounting to about ₦1.26 trillion ($821.9 million) in 2024, while also hosting 26 tertiary institutions and several fintech unicorns valued at over $1 billion.
He also pointed to the growing popularity of the state’s festive tourism season known as Detty December, which attracts members of the diaspora and international visitors every year.
The forum brought together global leaders and policymakers, including the Mayor of Monrovia, John-Charuk Siafa, to discuss how African cities are responding to key challenges such as climate adaptation, public health, governance and infrastructure while developing innovative and resilient urban solutions.
