The Lagos State Government is poised to host two significant gatherings in July 2025, aimed at propelling economic growth and fostering sustainable development across the state and the African continent. This announcement was made by Mrs. Folashade Bada-Ambrose, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, during a press briefing held on Monday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja. The dual event comprises the Lagos Investment Summit 2.0, scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, 2025, followed by the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) from Thursday, July 10, to Friday, July 11, 2025.

The Lagos Investment Summit 2.0, themed “Scaling Action: Bold Solutions Towards Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy,” is strategically designed to transition the state’s developmental efforts from mere planning to concrete implementation. Commissioner Bada-Ambrose emphasized that this summit will focus on tangible actions to attract investments and scale innovation. It will serve as a crucial platform to convene investors, development partners, industry experts, and policymakers, facilitating result-driven engagements. The Commissioner highlighted Lagos’s openness for business, stating, “This Summit will spotlight our state’s immense opportunities, particularly in smart city solutions, green energy, digital infrastructure, fintech, civil infrastructure, and agribusiness. Our objective is to move from dialogue to delivery.” A key feature of the Investment Summit will be the ‘Deal Room’ segment, where investment opportunities within Lagos will be presented to local and global investors through targeted sessions led by heads of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Following the investment summit, Lagos will co-convene the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) in partnership with the Sterling One Foundation, the United Nations, Sterling Bank, and other development partners. ASIS 2025 is designed to foster high-level conversations on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Africa. Its agenda will specifically address critical areas such as climate resilience, inclusive governance, youth empowerment, education, and impact financing. The Commissioner further elaborated that “This year’s ASIS will tackle structural inequalities and rethink finance flows across sub-national entities, with special emphasis on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), health equity, and long-term investment. It is Africa’s premium platform for accelerating the SDGs.” ASIS 2025 is structured to feature engaging keynote speakers, insightful panel discussions, and valuable networking sessions, all aimed at building robust collaborations among governments, private sector entities, development finance institutions, and social enterprises.

Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sustainable Development Goals, also spoke at the press conference, affirming that both summits are closely aligned with the overarching objectives of the SDGs. She pledged her office’s full support for these initiatives, underscoring their importance as a bold step towards achieving sustainable growth and long-term prosperity for both Lagos and the broader African continent. Commissioner Folashade Bada-Ambrose concluded by commending all partners for their invaluable support and collaboration, reiterating the Lagos government’s unwavering commitment to scaling bold and resilient solutions that will solidify Lagos’s position as a model 21st-century economy. Her concluding remark, “Together, let us deliver a Lagos that works for everyone,” underscored the collaborative spirit driving these strategic initiatives.