Sanwo-Olu at Harvard: Lagos is place to invest

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the state as an investor’s delight, saying it is the place for investment.

“Lagos is a place where people come in without anything and become somebody. We are a business and commercial powerhouse,” Sanwo-Olu said while speaking at Harvard Business School in the United States on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

The governor spoke as a guest in the foremost Nigerian investment banker and businessman, Prof. Hakeem Belo-Osagie’s course, “Understanding Africa: Business, Entrepreneurship, Political Economy and the Complexities of a Continent.”

Speaking on the topic, “Building the Future: Lagos State Infrastructure-led Transformation”, Sanwo-Olu said it was an opportunity to share the efforts of the Lagos State Government on transportation, housing, innovation, and industrial growth in the state.

“We are building a new airport on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, and work is set to begin on the Green Line, which will connect that part of the State to Lagos Island.

“Two new universities have been set up, and a third, a University of Medical Science, is on the way to bridge the personnel gap in that sector,” the governor was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his spokesman, Gboyega Akosile, on Thursday, April 24.

Sanwo-Olu advised his audience to invest in Lagos State, saying: “Some markets are saturated. They have built all the infrastructure they need; we are still building. Lagos is the place to invest.”

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Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said, is one of the foremost tech-driven states in Nigeria, noting that the idea is to have a big pool of tech personnel “so that if Microsoft or Amazon is looking for 10,000 to hire, Lagos will be the place to go.”

“This is part of our 30-year Development Plan to make Lagos a human-centric economy,” he said.

Speaking on opportunities in tourism, arts, and culture, the governor stated: “There have been fashion shows, drama performances, and movies. In fact, a movie made in Lagos has just been nominated to be presented at the Cannes Film Festival.

“We are trying to calendarise tourism and entertainment.

“Over 1,000 roads have been built and rehabilitated, and more than 3000 housing units have been provided to reduce the challenge in that sector.

“In health, the government is building a General Hospital, a mental health hospital and rehabilitation centre, and a new Massey Street Children’s Hospital, which will be the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Sanwo-Olu stressed that the road is clear for investors to move in as states now have power over generation, distribution, and transmission.

“We can give you a licence. The system has been unbundled. We can concession an area for you,” Sanwo-Olu added.

The Star