The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described Lagos as a central driver of Africa’s urban transformation, emphasizing the city’s role in reshaping economic patterns and urban development across the continent.
Speaking at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum hosted by the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics in Boston, Massachusetts, the Governor said Lagos “stands at the heart of the transformation shift, serving as Africa’s clearest signal that the urban future has begun.” The forum, themed “Africa’s Urban Future: Cities at the Crossroads of Growth and Resilience,” was co-sponsored by the Harvard University Center for African Studies and the Bloomberg Center for Cities.
Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted that Africa is experiencing historic urban expansion, with cities growing at 3.5% annually, fueled by a youthful population and emerging innovation hubs. “Africa’s cities are reshaping the economic path and patterns of urban development with their rapid expansion, and Lagos stands out as a key driver of this transformation,” he said.
He also spoke on the progress of his administration’s THEMES+ agenda, which focuses on impactful projects across transportation, tourism, technology, security, and social inclusion. Lagos’ achievements include the rail revolution with the Blue Line and Red Line, a thriving technology ecosystem, and the popular Detty December period attracting diaspora returns.
The Governor noted Lagos’ position as Africa’s second-largest city by population after Cairo, Egypt, and highlighted the challenges of rapid growth, including environmental and waste management concerns. He affirmed that the state’s blueprint under the THEMES+ agenda is designed to address these issues effectively.
“Lagos was recently ranked as the world’s fastest-growing tech ecosystem in 2025, home to over 2,000 startups in Nigeria. The state attracted $2.73 billion in capital inflows, representing 45% of Nigeria’s total (Q3 2025),” he said. The state also hosts five FinTech unicorns, 26 tertiary institutions, and its Internally Generated Revenue accounted for 35% of national IGR in 2024, amounting to $821.9 million (₦1.26 trillion).
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the role of youth, noting that 40% of Lagos’ population is aged 15-34 years, making the city a hub of innovation, talent, and growth.
The forum brought together global leaders and stakeholders, including Mayor John-Charuk Siafa of Monrovia, Liberia, to discuss how African cities are responding to challenges from climate adaptation and public health to governance and infrastructure, while advancing innovative, context-driven solutions.
