The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged businesses to move beyond product displays to manufacturing, investment and exports, saying the state is positioning itself as a major production and trade hub for African markets.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the call on Friday while declaring the 40th Lagos International Trade Fair open at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, where he said trade fairs must translate business connections into actual transactions, investments and job creation.
The Governor said the fair, which is expected to attract more than 1,000 exhibitors from over 20 countries, provides an opportunity for Nigerian businesses to tap into the African Continental Free Trade Area market of 1.4 billion people.
He said, “This 40th edition is especially significant because the fair is expanding its role. Its stronger focus on business-to-business and business-to-government engagement recognises that a trade fair must do more than display products. It should help companies secure buyers, attract investment, strengthen supply chains and create opportunities that endure beyond the event.”
He stated that the state was working to attract more manufacturing, processing and value-addition activities, while strengthening Lagos’s position as a gateway to West African and continental markets.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said i”nfrastructure investments, including the Blue and Red Rail Lines, road networks and improved transport connections, were part of efforts to reduce business costs and improve productivity. “
He also identified energy supply, digital connectivity and predictable regulation as critical to enterprise growth.
The Governor said that” Lagos ranked first nationally in the 2025 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report, scoring 85.6 per cent. He also said the Lagos State Export Readiness Programme had supported 253 small and medium-sized enterprises to prepare for international markets, with 20 Trade Champions showcasing Made-in-Lagos products at the Intra-African Trade Fair.”
He urged local and international exhibitors to use the fair to establish lasting commercial partnerships, pursue local manufacturing and technology transfer, and secure investment opportunities, stressing that its success should be measured by the deals, jobs and investments generated rather than attendance alone.
