Lagos targets 1,000 Commonwealth delegates for 2026 Invest Lagos Summit

By Adeola Ogunrinde

No fewer than 1,000 delegates from Commonwealth nations and other global investment communities are expected in Lagos for the third edition of the Invest Lagos Summit, as the state government intensifies efforts to position the state as Africa’s leading gateway for business and investment.

The two-day summit, themed “Lagos: Business Gateway to Africa”, is scheduled to hold on 8 and 9 June 2026 at Eko Hotels & Suites.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, said the summit is being organised by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and other strategic public and private sector stakeholders.

According to the commissioner, the summit has evolved beyond a conventional investment conference into a strategic platform for policy dialogue, capital mobilisation, investment matchmaking and global investor engagement.

She noted that participation by delegates from across the Commonwealth and other regions reflects growing international confidence in Lagos as a prime destination for trade, investment and enterprise development. Ambrose-Medebem added that the summit would attract policymakers, multinational corporations, development finance institutions, entrepreneurs, innovators and trade missions from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

She said this year’s edition would feature keynote addresses, plenary sessions, executive round-table discussions, sector-specific investment dialogues, exhibitions, business networking sessions, as well as bsiness-to-business and business-to-government meetings. Discussions at the summit would focus on sectors including infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, technology, the blue economy, tourism, energy transition, logistics, transportation, financial services, real estate and SME development.

“With a GDP ranked among the largest city economies in Africa and a population exceeding 23 million, Lagos remains uniquely positioned as the preferred destination for investment, manufacturing, finance, technology and enterprise development,” she said. She added that the summit aligns with the economic agenda of Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, aimed at boosting industrial growth, competitiveness and the global relevance of the state’s economy.

Also speaking, the Co-chairman of the Technical Committee on Invest Lagos 3.0, Toyosi Akerele, said technology and innovation would play a major role in this year’s edition. She disclosed that organisers would deploy an AI-powered dashboard to enable participants across the world to monitor plenary sessions, panel discussions and keynote speeches in real time.