Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu welcomed investors, industry leaders and innovators to the third edition of the Invest Lagos summit on Monday 8 June 2026, pitching the commercial capital of Nigeria as the business gateway to Africa.
The two-day summit, held on 8 and 9 June 2026, brought together investors, development partners and business leaders for wide-ranging conversations about growing businesses across Africa and strengthening Lagos’s position as a leading destination for investment, innovation and enterprise on the continent.
Vice President Kashim Shettima attended the summit alongside Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Alex Otti of Abia State. 
“Through Invest Lagos 3.0, we set out to demonstrate, in practical terms, why Lagos is the business gateway to Africa. Our city remains a leading destination for investment, innovation, and enterprise on the continent and we are ready for bold ideas. We are working every day to make it easier for businesses to grow and thrive here,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Reflecting on Day 2 of the summit, the Governor said the conversations were practical and focused on solutions, with investors and development partners reaffirming strong confidence in Lagos and the opportunities ahead.
“I remain focused on reducing barriers to investment and building a city where businesses can thrive,” he said.
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene was among the high-profile speakers at the summit, delivering a message on the role of cities in making continental free trade a reality on the ground.
“The AfCFTA is negotiated by sovereign states, but it is realized on the ground, in the cities, corridors, and commercial ecosystems where trade and investment actually take place,” Mene said.
Mene pointed to projections showing intra-African trade is expected to reach approximately US$230 billion in 2026, with Africa’s economy growing at 4.2%. He also flagged Nigeria’s hosting of the 5th Intra-African Trade Fair in 2027, expected to draw over 100,000 participants and generate an estimated US$50 billion in trade and investment opportunities.
On the sidelines of the summit, Mene also held discussions with Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited, a Nigerian company working on digital customs and trade facilitation solutions, around a proposed AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project. The initiative would focus on building continental digital customs infrastructure and harmonising border procedures, with the goal of faster border crossings, less paperwork and more predictable trade routes for African businesses moving goods across the continent.
