Oniru Business Council: A Model of How Leadership Shapes Development Responsibly

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described the Oniru Business and Cultural Day as a model of how leadership can shape development responsibly, while he expressed profound appreciation to the Oniru for his gracious dedication and purposeful leadership.

Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this during the business session of the formal inauguration of the Oniru Business Council and celebration of the Cultural Day held at Oniru Palace, Iru, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu remarked that his administration, over the past years, has focused on strengthening the foundations of economic prosperity through the T.H.E.M.E.S+ development agenda, particularly as the nation approaches another electoral cycle when conversations about leadership, development, and the future of the economy naturally take centre stage.

He said: “In Lagos, we have deliberately embraced the principle of an inclusive economy. The transformation of Oniru axis itself tells a powerful story. What was once largely residential and underdeveloped has become a prime destination for hospitality, real estate, commerce, and creative enterprise. This did not happen by chance. It is the product of strategic planning, strong collaboration with the traditional institution, and investor confidence in the stability of Lagos.

“The Oniru Business and Cultural Day provides a model of how leadership can shape development responsibly. The Kabiyesi has shown that when traditional institutions provide stability and clarity of vision, investors respond positively. Communities grow. Culture becomes an asset and prosperity is shared. Your stewardship affirms a timeless truth that tradition and progress are not opposing forces; they are complementary pillars upon which enduring and sustainable development is built.”

The Governor explained that through targeted programmes that support SMEs, digital entrepreneurship, the creative economy, and vocational training, his administration is expanding pathways to prosperity and ensuring that growth is broad-based, not concentrated in the hands of a few, while he assured the business community that Lagos will remain open for business, stable, and forward-looking even as the state approaches another election season.

Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Bada-Ambrose, described Lagos as a State built on heritage, enterprise, innovation, and collaboration, with a traditional institutions that remains a vital pillar in shaping community-driven development, fostering investment confidence, and preserving the cultural identity that anchors sustainable progress.

“The Oniru Business Network provides a platform for dialogue, alignment, and shared accountability because government cannot act in isolation. Traditional institutions cannot stand apart from economic transformation. The private sector cannot flourish without regulatory clarity and infrastructure support. When these pillars work together, progress becomes inevitable,” she said.

Baba-Ambrose affirmed that the state continues to welcome investment across critical sectors including manufacturing, technology, agriculture value chains, renewable energy, the creative economy, and financial services; as it is committed to strengthening public-private partnerships to unlock infrastructure financing and improve competitiveness, including regulatory reforms that protect investors while safeguarding public interest.

His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, OON, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, described the event as the institutional expression of a vision that has matured through years of reflection, consultation and deliberate engagement across his Kingdom.

“Over the past five years, in my interactions with stakeholders within Iru land, one message has remained consistent and unmistakable; growth must be coordinated, dialogue must be structured, and prosperity must be inclusive. In every conversation, I hear the same aspiration. Our people desire development that benefits both host communities and investors and seek a system where opportunity expands without friction, where engagement replaces uncertainty and collaboration replaces isolation.

“These recurring discussions point toward a clear solution; partnership built on trust, engagement sustained by structure, and progress guided by accountability. That solution takes institutional form through the Oniru Business and Culture Day, guided by our enduring philosophy of Peace Through Partnership. We gather not merely to celebrate culture, but to create a platform where culture, commerce and community development reinforce one another,” he said.