Lagos, California sign pact to strengthen economic, cultural ties
Lagos State and California in the United States have signed a sister-state agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration in technology, transportation, entertainment, trade and innovation.
The agreement was signed last Thursday in Sacramento by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and California Assemblyman Matt Haney at a ceremony attended by lawmakers, government officials, business leaders and members of the Nigerian community.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Lukmon Saheed Olumoh, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and Kehinde Joseph, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, witnessed the signing alongside California Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty and other dignitaries.
The ceremony took place at the Leland Stanford Mansion, a historic 19,000-square-foot Victorian-era building in Sacramento, and featured an Eyo masquerade performance, talking drums and Yoruba songs celebrating Lagos’ cultural heritage.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted similarities between Lagos and California, particularly in technology, entertainment and maritime activities, citing Yaba and Silicon Valley, Nollywood and Hollywood, as well as Lekki Port and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as examples.
“Lagos is a city-state of more than 20 million people, on a coast where the Atlantic meets the lagoon. If she were a country, she would be among the largest economies in Africa. She is where Nigeria banks, trades, films, sings and codes. Nollywood is her studio. Afrobeats is her voice,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Haney, who recalled his visit to Yaba and expressed his appreciation for Afrobeats, said the partnership presented opportunities for collaboration in fashion, food and culture. He also noted that the young populations of Lagos and California provided opportunities for both regions to learn from each other.
Afretrade CEO Lekan Salaam said stronger ties would create opportunities for investment, recalling his experience of travelling to California as a young man and pursuing what he described as the American dream. Lagos, with a reported GDP of about $259.75 billion, is one of Africa’s largest city economies, while California is the largest state economy in the United States.
