For Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the just-concluded 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York was more than a series of high-level engagements; it was a purposeful outing to position Lagos for stronger global partnerships, fresh investment and sustainable growth. Across meetings and platforms, the governor promoted Lagos’ investment potential, sought climate and renewable energy financing, advanced partnerships on infrastructure and climate action, highlighted support for small businesses and made the case for development-driven peace. In taking Lagos’ priorities to the global stage, Sanwo-Olu sought to turn international interest and conversations into partnerships, investments and opportunities that can deliver tangible benefits for Lagosians. Chiemelie Ezeobi, who trailed the governor, reports
For Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York was more than a week of high-level meetings.
It was an opportunity to present Lagos’ development priorities to global investors, governments, businesses and development partners, while seeking partnerships around climate action, energy, infrastructure, enterprise, security and economic growth.
Sanwo-Olu used a series of engagements to make the case that Lagos, Africa’s largest urban economy, needs global partnerships that can translate into practical investments and opportunities for its growing population.
Setting the Tone for Lagos at UNGA
The governor set the tone for Lagos’ participation on September 21 when he welcomed Vice President Kashim Shettima to New York for UNGA81, where the Vice President represented Nigeria and participated in engagements around the global development agenda.
Lagos also took the lead as Partner Government at the UN Global Compact Africa-Caribbean High-Level Session, using the platform to draw attention to climate risks facing cities and the need for stronger action across regions.
For Sanwo-Olu, Federal Government support was important to strengthening Lagos’ position as the state engaged international investors and development partners.
Global Renewable Summit
The governor also joined discussions at the Global Renewables Summit on delivering the Electrify Now agenda, stressing the urgency of reliable and clean energy for a city of more than 20 million people.
He disclosed that he had approved 15 renewable energy distribution projects in Lagos but identified access to funding as a major obstacle.
His argument was straightforward: Africa has the resources for the renewable energy transition, but investors must be willing to take the first risk while financing systems must recognise the continent’s peculiar challenges and opportunities.
Global Africa Business Initiative
At the Global Africa Business Initiative, Sanwo-Olu spoke about Lagos’ ambition to turn its growing global profile into practical opportunities for residents.
He pointed to transportation, healthcare and support for young entrepreneurs as areas where the state was seeking to create an environment in which Lagosians could thrive.
For the governor, international attention would only matter if it eventually translated into infrastructure, investment and opportunities at home.
Africa’s Industrial Capacity with Aliko Dangote Foundation
That message was reinforced during discussions hosted by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, where conversations focused on Africa’s industrial capacity, artificial intelligence and the continent’s young population.
Sanwo-Olu linked these issues to Lagos’ own development agenda, arguing that the state must continue creating conditions for its people and ideas to compete globally.
Climate Action and the Challenge of Financing
Climate change became one of the strongest themes of the governor’s UNGA engagements.
On September 23, he hosted a roundtable involving the Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals, UN Global Compact Networks and partners from Africa and the Caribbean.
The discussion focused on protecting coastlines and infrastructure while putting financing mechanisms in place before the next major climate event.
As a coastal city, Lagos is already dealing with flooding and the pressure climate change places on roads, homes and businesses. Sanwo-Olu stressed that government could not address the challenge alone and called for stronger private-sector partnerships.
At the UN Headquarters, he later shared the stage with California Governor Gavin Newsom at a UN high-level meeting on Climate Action and the Just Transition, shortly after Lagos and California formalised their sister-state partnership.
Sanwo-Olu used the opportunity to highlight Lagos’ plans around cleaner transportation, renewable energy and waste management.
With more than 5.2 million vehicles on its roads and thousands of tonnes of waste processed daily, he argued that climate action could also drive economic development, recycling, clean energy and jobs.
But the governor repeatedly returned to one issue: financing. His message was that states and regions have a major role to play in global climate action, but they require affordable, long-term financing to turn plans into projects.
ABS Live UNGA Session
At the ABS Live UNGA session, Sanwo-Olu shifted attention to one of the immediate drivers of Lagos’ economy: small businesses.
He spoke about the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and its financing opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The governor noted that the programme had also provided targeted support for women-owned businesses, who account for about 66 per cent of its loan beneficiaries.
The emphasis was on how access to capital can enable entrepreneurs to expand, strengthen livelihoods and create opportunities across communities.
It was also a reminder that the governor’s UNGA agenda was not limited to attracting large-scale international investments. It included finding ways to strengthen the smaller businesses that already form a significant part of Lagos’ economic life.
Beyond Investments for Lagos
The governor’s engagements extended beyond formal UN sessions. He was hosted at UBA America’s office at 575 Fifth Avenue in New York by UBA Group Managing Director and CEO, Oliver Alawuba, alongside the Emir of Kano; Muhammadu Sanusi II; Governors Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina; and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara.
On September 24, Sanwo-Olu was also at Nigeria’s Mission House when Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau signed a framework aimed at deepening investment in Nigeria’s estimated $700 billion mineral resources.
The focus on processing, exploration, infrastructure and technical capacity reflected a broader argument Sanwo-Olu had consistently made at UNGA: Nigeria must move beyond exporting raw materials and build stronger local value chains.
8th ECAM Council High-level Session
At the 8th ECAM Council High-Level Session on September 25, Sanwo-Olu connected development to peace and security.
He argued that peace was not only about treaties and security but also about jobs, healthcare, reliable public services and people having confidence in their future.
He pointed to projects under his administration’s THEMES agenda, including the Blue and Red Lines, Lekki Deep Sea Port and healthcare reforms, as investments intended to outlive the current administration.
He also called for partnerships that build with Africa, not simply for Africa, insisting that African professionals and institutions must have a leading role in determining the continent’s future.
As he prepares to hand over the reins of Lagos next year, Sanwo-Olu’s UNGA81 outing therefore carried an underlying message: the global partnerships being pursued must eventually produce tangible results for Lagosians.
With the UNGA now concluded, the real test is whether the conversations in New York can be converted into funding, investment and sustainable growth. For Governor Sanwo-Olu, it will.