Governor Sanwo-Olu: Driving Global Partnerships for a Transforming Lagos

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is a leader who looks beyond borders to shape the future of Lagos. With relentless energy, he continues to engage global partners, forging connections that bring fresh ideas, expertise, and investment into Africa’s fastest-growing megacity. His leadership is marked by purposeful international engagements - not only to attract investment, but also to harness knowledge, innovation, and best practices that can accelerate Lagos’ transformation.

Most recently, the Governor met with the California State Transportation Agency, led by Secretary of Transportation, Mr. Toks Omishakin. Their discussions covered rail, road, water, and aviation — critical pillars of Lagos’ quest for a truly multimodal transport system where Lagosians can travel safely, efficiently, and with more choices.

For Governor Sanwo-Olu, partnerships are never symbolic. They are catalysts for change. As Lagos expands, he knows it must learn from forward-thinking regions like California, while also showcasing its own strengths as a hub for innovation and opportunity in Africa.

This meeting also highlights another vital strength of Lagos - its diaspora. Secretary Omishakin, who leads California’s transportation strategy, is of Nigerian origin. His story underscores how diaspora professionals can become powerful bridges between home and host countries, channeling expertise and influence to drive meaningful change.

At the Lagos State Office of Diaspora Affairs (LASDA), this belief is central to our mandate. The diaspora is one of Lagos’ greatest assets, a community with the global exposure and knowledge to accelerate Governor Sanwo-Olu’s vision of a smarter, more resilient Lagos. By connecting with diaspora leaders and professionals, LASDA helps turn international collaborations into concrete benefits for Lagosians.

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s relentless pursuit of global partnerships reinforces a vital truth: Lagos cannot transform in isolation. Each engagement with leaders and institutions abroad is an opportunity to exchange ideas, attract investments, and implement solutions that uplift daily life in Lagos.

At LASDA, we are proud to support this vision. We work to deepen diaspora connections and amplify partnerships that position Lagos as both a continental and global leader. Every collaboration brings us closer to a future where growth is sustainable, transformation is inclusive, and opportunities are limitless.

As Lagos charts its path toward becoming Africa’s model megacity, partnerships like the one with California remain essential. For us at LASDA, it’s beyond transportation, it’s about strengthening people-to-people ties, harnessing diaspora influence, and building a Lagos where mobility drives prosperity and improves quality of life.

We invite Lagosians in the diaspora to be part of this journey. Together, we can power the vision of a greater Lagos, globally connected, future-ready, and inclusive for all.