No fewer than 1,000 delegates from Commonwealth countries and other global investment communities are expected in Lagos for the third edition of the Invest Lagos Summit, as the state government intensifies efforts to position the commercial capital as Africa’s leading gateway for business and investment.
The two-day summit, themed “Lagos: Business Gateway to Africa,” is scheduled to hold on June 8 and 9, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, said the summit is being organised by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and other strategic public and private sector stakeholders.
According to the commissioner, Invest Lagos has evolved beyond a conventional investment conference into a strategic platform for policy dialogue, capital mobilisation, investment matchmaking and global investor engagement.
She said participation by delegates from across the Commonwealth and other regions reflects growing international confidence in Lagos as a prime destination for trade, enterprise and investment.
Ambrose-Medebem noted that the summit would attract policymakers, multinational corporations, development finance institutions, entrepreneurs, innovators and trade missions from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
She explained that this year’s edition would feature keynote addresses, plenary sessions, executive roundtables, sector-specific investment dialogues, exhibitions, business networking sessions, as well as Business-to-Business and Business-to-Government meetings.
Discussions at the summit, she added, would focus on sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, technology, blue economy, tourism, energy transition, logistics, transportation, financial services, real estate and SME development.
The commissioner further disclosed that one of the major highlights of the summit would be the Governors’ Investment Showcase, designed to facilitate direct engagement between state governments, sovereign institutions, global investors and development partners.
Describing Lagos as a strategic economic corridor connecting Africa to global markets, Ambrose-Medebem cited the state’s large consumer population, expanding infrastructure, thriving innovation ecosystem and maritime assets as key attractions for investors.
“With a GDP ranked among the largest city economies in Africa and a population exceeding 23 million people, Lagos remains uniquely positioned as the preferred destination for investment, manufacturing, finance, technology and enterprise development,” she said.
She reiterated the commitment of the Lagos State Government to improving the business environment through reforms, digital transformation, ease-of-doing-business initiatives and strategic infrastructure development.
According to her, the summit aligns with the economic agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu aimed at boosting industrial growth, competitiveness and the global relevance of Lagos’ economy.
Ambrose-Medebem said the summit is expected to produce concrete investment frameworks, strategic agreements and sector-specific action plans capable of accelerating job creation and sustainable economic growth.
Also speaking, Co-chairman of the Technical Committee on Invest Lagos 3.0, Ms Toyosi Akerele, said technology and innovation would play a major role in this year’s edition.
She disclosed that organisers would deploy an AI-powered dashboard to enable participants across the world monitor plenary sessions, panel discussions and keynote speeches in real time.
Akerele added that students from tertiary institutions, including Lagos State University, would manage the summit’s dashboard and command centre as part of efforts to promote youth participation and human capital development.
She further revealed that the summit would feature a dedicated podcast segment where foreign delegates and development partners would share experiences on Lagos’ culture, tourism potential and business environment.
According to her, more than 400 foreign delegates are expected to embark on guided tours of major infrastructure and industrial projects across Lagos on June 10.
The delegates are expected to visit the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Dangote Refinery, Dangote Fertiliser Plant, Lekki Deep Sea Port and the RussellSmith 3D Printing and Manufacturing Centre.
Akerele said the tours would also expose participants to Lagos transport infrastructure, including the Lagos Blue Line and Lagos Red Line rail systems.