Lagos State is set to launch an International Financial Centre during a major global trade event scheduled for June 9–10, 2026, as part of efforts to attract international investors and strengthen its position as a global financial hub.
The planned launch is expected to take place during a large international trade gathering in Lagos that will bring investors, business leaders and government representatives from across Commonwealth countries and other global markets.
The initiative is being facilitated with the support of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), which is working with Lagos State to mobilise global capital and create stronger connections between Nigeria and international investors.
Chief Executive Officer of CWEIC, Samantha Cohen, said the trade event will serve as a major platform to introduce the International Financial Centre and showcase Lagos as one of Africa’s leading economic destinations.
According to her, the event is designed to attract large delegations of investors from across the Commonwealth who are looking for emerging markets with strong economic potential.
“I am here to meet with the governor of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment and conclude our plans towards putting on a major trade event that will take place between June 09–10, 2026,” Cohen said.
She explained that the event is expected to coincide with the official launch of the International Financial Centre in Lagos.
“I hope also it will bring in the launch of the International Financial Centre that is going to be launched here as well. So that will greatly position the Lagos economy,” she added.
Cohen described Lagos as one of the most dynamic economic centres in Africa, noting that the new financial centre will help elevate the state’s international profile and make it easier for global investors to engage with the Nigerian market.
“I think Lagos’ economy is the fourth largest in Africa. That will give Lagos State a great international platform because we will be bringing large delegations of investors from across other countries in the Commonwealth,” she said.
The International Financial Centre is expected to strengthen Lagos’ role as Nigeria’s commercial capital while also expanding its global financial connections.
By creating a central hub for financial services, international investment and cross-border trade, the initiative aims to make Lagos more competitive among global financial centres.
Cohen explained that the CWEIC’s role is to use its global network to connect Nigeria with investors, governments and businesses that are seeking new growth opportunities.
“We are connecting at the highest level, which means business can be done more quickly,” she said.
She noted that the council’s membership includes both governments and major corporations, enabling it to facilitate partnerships that can accelerate investment projects in Nigeria.
The upcoming trade event is expected to attract investors from across the Commonwealth as well as growing interest from non-Commonwealth countries looking to invest in Africa.
Cohen said Nigeria’s economic potential, population growth and expanding consumer market are key factors drawing international attention.
“Africa is booming and Nigeria is front and centre of the big economic shift,” she said.
“And I think Lagos, being the financial centre of Nigeria, is very much in focus.”
She also pointed out that global interest in the Commonwealth as a trading network is increasing, with investors from regions such as the Gulf states exploring opportunities in markets like Nigeria.
“We have new interest from non-Commonwealth countries in the Commonwealth as a trading block,” she said.
“So we have interest from the Gulf states, which we haven’t really seen before, who want to invest in places like Nigeria because they see the potential and the growth.”
Beyond the launch of the International Financial Centre, the trade event will also highlight investment opportunities across key sectors of the Nigerian economy, including manufacturing and technology.
Cohen emphasised that expanding local manufacturing capacity will be critical for improving economic prosperity and reducing the cost of goods for Nigerians.
“I think that manufacturing is the key to unlocking economic prosperity, and creating more manufacturing facilities on the continent as a whole, and in Nigeria, is really important,” she said.
One example she highlighted is the work of the Russel Smith Group, which is developing one of the world’s largest additive manufacturing facilities in Lagos.
According to her, the project demonstrates how international collaboration can help drive technological innovation and industrial growth in Nigeria.
“One of our Strategic Partners is called Russel Smith Group, they are pioneering additive manufacturing in Nigeria. They are also building one of the biggest factories in the world in additive manufacturing in Lagos,” she said.
She explained that additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, will allow Nigeria to produce complex industrial components locally using available raw materials.
“So this Russel Smith Group is manufacturing through 3D printing using powdered metal,” Cohen said.
“You can create 3D parts for cars, for defence, for farming equipment, for mining equipment.”
She added that innovations introduced in Lagos can serve as a model for other parts of Nigeria and across Africa.
“And that is happening here in Lagos. And things that you can pilot in Lagos can then be duplicated and modelled in other parts of the country, in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.”
Cohen also said the CWEIC is working to support Nigeria’s broader economic ambitions by providing platforms that allow Nigerian leaders to present investment opportunities to global audiences.
One such platform is the Commonwealth Trade Investment Summit scheduled to take place in London in April 2026.
“So we are having a big conference in London, in the City of London, in the Mansion House between April 20–21, 2026, which is the Commonwealth Trade Investment Summit,” she said.
“The government of Lagos State, we hope, will be attending to promote Lagos State.”
She said the event will provide Nigerian officials with the opportunity to tell the global investment community about the economic developments taking place in Lagos.
“That’s a big international audience. And we are providing opportunities for your leaders to tell the Lagos story, to tell everybody about what’s happening here, the dynamism, the innovation, the opportunities.”
Cohen noted that the council also helps investors manage risks by connecting them with reliable local partners and providing legal frameworks that support investment.
“Of course, there are risks, but we create structures that enable people to de-risk their investments and to build relationships,” she said.
She emphasised that strong business relationships are essential for successful long-term investments.
“Good investment is really about building relationships,” Cohen said.
“And we’ve been in the market for a very long time and so we have the opportunity to have these long-term relationships.”
As global attention increasingly turns to emerging markets, Cohen said Lagos and Nigeria are gaining recognition in major financial centres around the world.
“People are talking about Lagos. They are talking about Nigeria in all the financial centres of the world,” she said.
“Everybody can see the potential and the opportunity.”
She added that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population also makes the country an attractive market for international investors seeking large-scale economic opportunities.
“The population is exploding,” she said.
“And the next generation will really benefit if we can organise ourselves well.”
