Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is currently attending the 3rd AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF 2024) in the Bahamas. During the opening ceremony, he shared inspiring stories about how ambitious local initiatives by sub-national governments in Africa are transforming the continent’s economies. He used the development model of Lagos as a prime example of how local efforts are rewriting Nigeria’s growth narrative.
Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the irreversible economic success Lagos has achieved by leveraging both national and international partnerships to enhance local strategies for addressing contemporary challenges. He enumerated five major accomplishments that have contributed to building a resilient economy in Lagos: the establishment of the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the development of Eko Atlantic City, the construction of a 10-lane West African Highway, the creation of intracity rail infrastructure, and harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of young people.
“These stories underscore the importance of African solutions and the capacity of Africans to tackle African problems,” he said. “They emphasize the necessity of self-confidence, believing in our ideas and approaches, and understanding that external assistance can only serve as an add-on or bonus. It can never replace the internal leadership and direction required to advance the African continent.”
