Lagos, Sterling One Foundation To Host Invest Lagos 2.0 Ahead Of Africa Social Impact Summit

By BENJAMIN OMOIKE

LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with Sterling One Foundation, has announced the second edition of the Invest Lagos summit, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, as a pre-event to this year’s Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS).

The summit will be held at the Grand Ballroom of Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the main ASIS event following on July 10–11 at the Eko Convention Centre.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose, said both events are being organized in partnership with the United Nations System in Nigeria, the Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals, Sterling Bank, and Arise News.

Proceedings will begin at 8:00 a.m. daily.

Titled “Scaling Action: Bold Solutions Towards Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy,” Invest Lagos 2.0 is designed to align with the state’s long-term vision as captured in the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP 2052) and the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“The essence of this summit symbolises our deliberate transition from aspiration to realisation, potential to performance, and discussions to tangible developmental achievements,” said Ambrose.

“This is a strategic platform designed to galvanise catalytic partnerships and meaningful collaborations.”

A key feature of the summit will be the introduction of Deal Rooms, where senior government officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will present investment pitches to prospective local and international investors.

These sessions are intended to facilitate high-value matchmaking and forge partnerships critical to Lagos’s sustained economic growth and inclusive prosperity.

Ambrose identified several strategic growth sectors being targeted for investment, including infrastructure development, integrated transportation, technology, healthcare, renewable energy, creative industries, real estate, agribusiness, and the blue economy.

“These engagements will allow us to explore innovative solutions for infrastructure expansion, creative financing models, entrepreneurial development, and digital innovation that solidify Lagos’s role as Africa’s economic nerve centre,” she added.

The Commissioner also disclosed plans to launch the Lagos State Industrial Policy (LSIP 2025–2030) later this year. The policy aims to reposition the industrial sector, boost productivity, attract targeted investments, and enhance the state’s global competitiveness.

Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasized the importance of partnerships in achieving development outcomes.

“No single entity can do it alone. The partnerships we build today are key to achieving the SDGs, particularly Goal 17 which focuses on collaboration,” she said.

Mrs. Peju Ibekwe, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, described Lagos as a leading innovation hub and top investment destination in Africa.

She noted that the 2024 edition of the summit attracted over $100 million in impact investments and led to a significant Memorandum of Understanding between Lagos and the Abu Dhabi Ports Authority.

“This year’s theme — ‘Scaling Action: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation’ — is a call to accelerate scalable, high-impact solutions, especially as we reach the midpoint of the United Nations’ Decade of Action,” Ibekwe stated.