Sanwo-Olu canvasses home-grown solutions to African problems

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has canvassed Africa-based solutions to tackling problems confronting the continent.

Sanwo-Olu advised that external support or aid should only be an added advantage.

The governor spoke at an ongoing 3rd AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum in the Bahamas, according to a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on Thursday.

The governor, during the opening ceremony, shared stories of how various homegrown visions by sub-national governments in Africa were transforming economies on the continent, using the Lagos development model as an example of how local effort was writing a new growth narrative for Nigeria.

“These stories speak to the importance of African solutions and African capacity for tackling African problems. They highlight the necessity for self-confidence, of believing in our ideas and approaches, and of understanding that external help can only function as an add-on or bonus and can never replace the internal leadership and direction required to advance the cause of the African continent,” he said.

The governor said Lagos had recorded irreversible economic success from leveraging national and international partnerships to expand local approaches for tackling contemporary challenges.

He listed five major growth accomplishments that had helped Lagos build a resilient economy, which included establishment of the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the development of Eko Atlantic City, the building of a 10-lane West African Highway, the construction of intracity rail infrastructure and leveraging the entrepreneurial spirit of young people.

In a post on his X handle, Sanwo-Olu added that on the sidelines of the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum, he connected with several leaders from the Caribbean region.

“Our interactions were strategically focused on fostering collaboration and exploring opportunities for mutual growth and development,” he wrote.

Last November, Sanwo-Olu reached out to investors in Africa and across the world to invest in the state’s infrastructure, promising huge returns on investment.