The Founder of Citadel School of Government, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu have called for regional economic integration that would usher in growth and prosperity for Nigerian states.

They made the call at the “Geo-Economic Optimisation Summit” convened by the Citadel School of Government, CSG, in Lagos.

The theme of the summit is: “From South -West Nigeria To The Globe:Lagos State As A Geo-Economic Hub”.

In his address, CSG Founder and Board Chairman, Pastor Tunde Bakare, said Lagos State provided the context for the CSG engagements on geoeconomic optimisation.

Bakare said Lagos State is a pointer to what works a model of what could be emulated, a demonstration of what is possible and what could be improved upon.

According to him, Lagos is Nigeria’s most economically viable state and a model of progressive continuity in development planning and execution throughout the Fourth Republic so far.

In his words, from the administration of President Bola Tinubu to that of Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state offers a compelling basis for national reflection and dialogue.

Bakare said Lagos story is one of ongoing geoeconomic success, demonstrating how strategic vision, institutional continuity, and sustained investment can transform a subnational entity into a globally relevant economic hub.

According to him, more importantly, it points to what is possible across Nigeria’s geopolitical and geoeconomic zones, inspiring the emergence of multiple centres of prosperity capable of connecting the nation to vibrant regional and global economic blocs.

Bakare noted that Lagos served not merely as a success story but as a proof of concept for creation of several world-class economic hubs across Nigeria’s six potential “Dubais” in the making, each drawing on the unique strengths and comparative advantages of its region.

In his words, that is why they are honoured to have Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, as their keynote speaker at the maiden summit to unpack the geoeconomic hub that Lagos models from Southwest Nigeria to the globe.

According to him, while this is the maiden edition, the vision will see them engaging one state at a time; one governor at a time, showcasing what works and the intra- and inter-regional collaborations that can accelerate national development.

He said that is the essence of the Geoeconomic Optimisation Summit.

In his Keynote address, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos is investing heavily in mass transit across road, rail and water; and placing climate resilience at the center of its planning, as a coastal city must; and digitising public administration, from internal processes to the services its citizens touch every day.

According to him, geoeconomics is the deliberate use of economic instruments trade, investment, infrastructure, finance, technology and talent to project influence and to secure prosperity in a world where geography and economics can no longer be separated.

He noted that in a the competitive world, places that prosper would be those that
command strategic position, dependable infrastructure, sound institutions and capable people.

According to him, Africa, home to the youngest population on earth and to the largest free trade area in the world, sits at the very center of the story, and within Africa, Lagos stands at the fulcrum.

In his words, Lagos is a sub-national economy that carries the weight of a nation, contributing roughly a third of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, and are Africa’s second-largest metropolitan economy behind only Cairo with output in excess of 259.75 billion dollars on a purchasing-power-parity basis.

The governor affirmed that the state belonged fully to the South West and would continue to engender genuine regional integration amongst the states.

According to him, the next circle is the nation itself, as Nigeria’s commercial and financial nerve center, and its busiest gateway for trade and investment, Lagos carries a responsibility that reaches far
beyond its own borders.

He said the state would continue to press the case for a “special status” designation for Lagos, grounded in our history as a former federal territory, in our strategic importance to the national economy, and in the immense burdens they carry as home to a tenth of Nigeria’s people.

In his words, they believe Lagos deserves that recognition, and they will continue to seek a constitutional provision to guarantee it.

He reiterated that Lagos remained open to investors and ready to partner with individuals, private sector, South West and the world at large.

Across the South-West and the wider nation: let us think regionally, act strategically, and cooperate generously, for no single state captures the whole prize alone.

“From this South-West corner of Nigeria — standing on the shoulders of our geography, our people and our institutions, Lagos intends to take its rightful place, not at the margins of the global economy but among its hubs,” he added.

Speaking on the topic, “From South -West Nigeria to the Globe: Lagos State As a Geo-Economic HUB”, Executive Director of the University of Lagos Business School,  ULBS, Prof. Sunday Adebisi, said Lagos state has the commercial DNA and geographic advantage to lead the pace for growth.

“What Lagos must now build, with deliberate intent and institutional partnership, is the knowledge architecture capable of governing a city of 25 million people, a continental trade gateway, a maritime logistics hub, and a global technology capital simultaneously.

“The path from South-West Nigeria to the globe runs through an ecosystem of talent, institutions, infrastructure, and governance whose components must now be deliberately assembled,” he said.

According to him, Lagos is no longer just Nigeria’s commercial capital; it is the geoeconomic engine of West Africa with global ambitions.

“The Lagos GDP is projected to hit ₦73.15 trillion this year, with a clear roadmap toward a 1 trillion dollars economy by 2052.

“Measured by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), the Lagos economy stood at 259.75 billion dollars in 2025, making it the second-largest city economy in Africa, surpassing Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Accra.

“Lagos consistently contributes between 22 per cent and 26. per cent of Nigeria’s total GDP and over 50 per cent of its non-oil GDP.

“The state generates 65 per cent of Nigeria’s VAT and 35 per cent of national Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

” In the first quarter of 2026 alone, Lagos generated ₦807.1 billion in total revenue, with ₦536.37 billion coming directly from its own IGR,” he said.

He pointed out that if Lagos state were a sovereign nation, it would rank among the top 30 economies in the world and be the fifth largest in Africa.

“Lagos’ economy, with an estimated population of 24 million, is larger than any other economy in the ECOWAS sub-region, despite the rebasing of Ghana’s GDP..”

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Director of Citadel School of Government, Omoaholo Omoakhalen said the summit was the maiden edition and marked an important milestone in the evolution of a conversation that has occupied the minds of many nation-builders for decades.

He said the summit sought to fashion out ideas on how to harness the vast potential embedded within Nigeria’s diverse regions, states, and communities to build a more prosperous, peaceful, and globally competitive nation.

According to him, the CSG was established to raise cutting-edge leaders equipped with the tools required to shape institutions, strengthen governance systems, influence public policy, and advance societal progress.

“More than a decade ago, acting on the founder’s vision, we began exploring the geo economic potential embedded within Nigeria’s various regions and zones.

“Today is an opportunity to explore the opportunities embedded within Lagos state as a geoeconomic hub.

“Whether you are a young entrepreneur seeking to build the next globally competitive enterprise, a business executive interested in maximising the advantages of Lagos’ economic ecosystem, or a policymaker seeking insights into long-term development planning, today’s conversations promise to be enriching.”

According to him, the summit forms part of an ongoing research programme within CSG Think Tank. Lagos state provides the starting point for this national conversation.

The event had political leaders; members of the diplomatic and business communities; academics; development practitioners; civil society leaders; and participants joining from within and outside Nigeria.