Sanwo-Olu At John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum: Lagos Stands Out As Key Driver of Africa’s Cities Transformation

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described the state as a key driver of Africa’s cities.

He said the city is transforming and reshaping the economic path and patterns of urban development with rapid expansion.

Governor Sanwo-Olu added that Lagos stands at the heart of the transformation shift, serving as Africa’s clearest signal that the urban future has begun, noting that “Lagos’ trajectory is not just aligned with Africa’s rise; it is defining its urban future.”

The Governor said the Lagos State Government, through the THEMES+ agenda of his administration, is delivering impactful projects across transportation, tourism, technology, security, and social inclusion.

Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum hosted by the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, themed “Africa’s Urban Future: Cities at the Crossroads of Growth and Resilience”, held in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

Sanwo-Olu, who was the Guest Speaker at the forum co-sponsored by the Harvard University Center for African Studies and Bloomberg Center for Cities, said, “Africa is entering a historic urban expansion, with its cities growing faster than any region globally, urbanising at 3.5 per cent annually, driven by a youthful population and rising innovation hubs.

“As one of the world’s fastest-growing regions (second to Asia) and home to 30 per cent of global critical minerals, Africa is poised for transformational growth. Africa’s cities are reshaping the economic path and patterns of urban development with their rapid expansion, and Lagos stands out as a key driver of this transformation.

“Africa’s and Lagos’ urban futures are being shaped now, and with the right partners and investments, we can build cities that are innovative, inclusive, and resilient.”

Speaking on the importance of Lagos as the key driver of transformation in Africa, Governor Sanwo-Olu said, “Lagos State has been ranked as Africa’s second-largest city in terms of population after Cairo, Egypt.”

The Governor mentioned the impact of rapid population growth and the challenges it poses to the environment and waste management, but added that his administration is committed to addressing every environmental challenge through a well articulated blueprint in line with the THEMES+ agenda.

Sanwo-Olu proudly stated the strengths of Lagos, which include the rail revolution -the blue line and the red line, technology, noting that the state boasts of several startups and unicorns as well as the diaspora returns during the festive season in December. This he said has been popularly christened as Detty December.

“Lagos was recently ranked as the world’s fastest-growing tech ecosystem in 2025, being a home to over 2000 startups in Nigeria. Lagos State attracted $2.73 billion, representing 45 per cent of total national capital inflows (Q3 2025).

“With 26 tertiary institutions, Lagos places among Nigeria’s top states for university count. Lagos is home to five FinTech unicorns, each with over $1 billion in value, and together they account for a large portion of its tech ecosystem.

“Lagos’ Internally Generated Revenue accounted for 35 per cent of total IGR, amounting to $821.9 million (₦1.26 trillion) in Nigeria (2024). Lagos accounts for 10 percent of Nigeria’s population, and 40 per cent of Lagos’ total population consists of youth aged 15-34 years.”

The John F. Kennedy Jr Forum, attended by Governor Sanwo-Olu and other global leaders and stakeholders like the Mayor of Monrovia, Liberia, Mayor John-Charuk Siafa among others, explores how African cities are responding to challenges—from climate adaptation and public health to governance and infrastructure—while advancing innovative, context-driven solutions.

The John F. Kennedy Jr Forum is a platform for world leaders and has been attended by many prominent leaders who shape global affairs.