I joined Flutterwave and Invest Africa for the Africa Forward: Investing in the Next Decade of Growth Executive Roundtable in New York. We talked about how to scale Africa’s digital economy and build the right partnerships to support its growth. It was encouraging to see leaders from business, finance and government in the room, focused on the opportunities ahead for Africa. Unlocking our continent’s potential will take real collaboration between the public and private sectors. For us in Lagos, we remain open to partnerships that create jobs and strengthen our position as a leading digital and business hub in Africa.

My address at the 8th ECAM Council High-Level Session in New York was centred on the point that peace isn’t just about treaties or security but also about whether people have jobs, access to healthcare, reliable public services and a real reason to believe in their future. Lagos is home to more than 20 million people, most of them under 30, and our experience has taught me that development and security are closely connected. When people have opportunities, reliable public services and confidence in their institutions, we strengthen the foundations of peace. Since 2019, our THEMES agenda has guided our work across transportation, health, education, technology, the economy, entertainment, tourism, security and governance. From the Blue and Red Lines to the Lekki Deep Sea Port and reforms in healthcare, we have focused on projects that can outlive any administration. I also spoke about the need to build with Africa, not for Africa. Lagos welcomes the ECAM Charter for Africa and its call for a new approach to partnerships with our continent. Africa must not simply be seen as a source of resources. We must create more value here, build stronger industries, create jobs and give our people and institutions a leading role in shaping our future. Our engineers, doctors, lawyers, financiers and other professionals must have a seat at the table. We must be equal partners in building the future of our continent. As I prepare to hand over the reins of Lagos next year, I remain convinced that one of the strongest foundations for peace is giving people the opportunity to build a future where they call home. That is the future we must continue to build together.

I was in the room at Nigeria’s Mission House in New York on Wednesday when we took an important step forward for our economy. Our Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Hon. @AlakeDele and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau signed a new framework to deepen investment in Nigeria’s $700 billion mineral resources. The focus of the framework is to move beyond simply exporting raw materials by building a stronger local value chain through processing, exploration, better infrastructure and technical capacity. This will help us turn Nigeria’s mineral wealth into lasting growth and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to diversify our economy. It was encouraging to witness this firsthand. We must keep working to ensure that opportunities like this create real benefits for our people in Lagos and across Nigeria.

Yesterday at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, I took the stage alongside Governor Gavin Newsom of California at the United Nations High-level Meeting on Climate Action and the Just Transition, convened by the Office of the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed. Coming just days after our Sister State partnership was formalised between Lagos and California, standing together at the UN showed what is possible when Africa’s largest urban economy and America’s largest state economy work together for real progress. When asked how we are protecting more than 22 million Lagosians from flooding, rising sea levels and extreme heat, my response was that for us in Lagos, climate action and economic development go hand in hand. States and regions have the power to deliver up to 80% of global climate action. In Lagos, we are turning that responsibility into real opportunity. With more than 5.2 million vehicles on our roads, we are moving towards cleaner transport. We also process more than 5,000 tonnes of waste every day and we are turning that waste into recycling industries, clean energy and jobs. But governments cannot do this alone. States and regions need access to affordable, long-term financing to turn climate plans into real projects that improve people’s lives. Lagos is ready to deliver. We are ready to do our part. Now, we need the global financial community to meet us with the investment needed to match our scale.

I hosted a roundtable discussion with our Office of SDGs, the UN Global Compact Networks and partners from across Africa and the Caribbean to focus on what we can do differently and, more importantly, what we can do now to protect our coastlines and infrastructure and put the right financing in place before the next major climate event. Lagos is a coastal city so climate change is not a distant concern for us. We see its effects in the flooding that affects our communities and the pressure it puts on our roads, homes and businesses. By working directly with the private sector, we are putting measures in place and building a stronger, more prepared Lagos. Government cannot do this alone. We need strong partnerships and practical solutions that will help secure our economic future.

At the ABS Live UNGA session, I spoke about how Lagos is making it easier for small businesses to access the capital they need to grow. Through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), we have created financing opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized businesses, helping entrepreneurs expand their operations and build stronger livelihoods. LSETF also provides targeted support for women-owned businesses, who make up about 66% of its loan beneficiaries. Small businesses remain at the heart of our economy. In my conversation, I shared how this approach is helping local businesses grow and open up more opportunities for people across Lagos.

In New York, I spent time listening to discussions on Africa’s growth, hosted by the Aliko Dangote Foundation. The discussions on industrial capacity, artificial intelligence and the untapped talent of our young people show that the work we are doing in Lagos connects directly to a much bigger picture for our continent. We must continue to create the conditions for our people and ideas to grow and compete on the global stage.

Yesterday at the Global Africa Business Initiative in New York, I joined global leaders to discuss how we are building cities that work for the future. I shared our vision for turning Lagos’ growing global reach into practical opportunities for our people. Governing a state of over 22 million people means balancing big ambitions with the real, everyday needs of our residents. Modernising transport, expanding healthcare or supporting young entrepreneurs, our priority is to create an environment where every Lagosian can thrive. Global attention must translate into real benefits at home. My focus is on turning that interest into infrastructure and shared opportunities for our people. We are actively building the partnerships that will help move our economy forward. Lagos is open for business and we will ensure that every opportunity creates value for Lagosians.

At the Global Renewables Summit, I joined the dialogue on delivering the Electrify Now agenda. For Lagos, with a population of over 24 million people, access to reliable and clean energy cannot wait. We need to see action now and build on what comes out of COP31. Africa has the resources needed for the renewable energy transition but we must also make the right investments and ensure that clean energy is affordable and accessible. I have approved 15 renewable energy distribution projects in Lagos but access to funding remains a major challenge. Funds are available but investors are often unwilling to take the first risk. Lagos is ready to do its part. We need stronger partnerships and a global financing system that recognises both the challenges and opportunities across Africa. If we are serious about a fair global energy transition, Africa must be part of the solution.

On behalf of my wife, Ibijoke, my family, the Lagos State Government and the people of Lagos, I celebrate Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, our First Lady on her 66th birthday today. For many years, she has dedicated herself to serving people, particularly women, children and vulnerable Nigerians. From her time as First Lady of Lagos to her years in the Senate and now through the Renewed Hope Initiative, she has continued to use her position to support and improve the lives of many. As she celebrates today, I pray that God continues to grant her good health, strength and wisdom for the years ahead. Happy 66th birthday, Your Excellency. May your new year be filled with joy and many more opportunities to make a difference.

I had a meeting with Mayor Daniel Lurie at San Francisco City Hall. We spoke about potential areas of partnership between Lagos and San Francisco, especially around technology and sustainable growth. I look forward to building on this as we keep Lagos on the map as a top global destination for investment.

I spent time with Ghazi Shami and the team at EMPIRE during my visit to their San Francisco headquarters. Touring their facility and seeing how they support global talents including our very own Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Asake and Fireboy DML, was motivating. Lagos continues to power the global sound of Afrobeats. My talk with Ghazi reinforced our commitment to creating the opportunities that help our local talent grow and own their narrative on the world stage. The future of our creative economy is bright and we are backing our young talent every step of the way.

Happy 62nd birthday to my dear brother, friend, and dependable partner, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat. For over seven years, we have shared the responsibilities and challenges of serving Lagos. Through it all, @drobafemihamzat has been a trusted ally, a loyal friend, and someone I can always count on. His dedication to the people of Lagos and his steady strength show up in everything we do. Ibijoke and I, along with our family and the good people of Lagos, celebrate you today. Thank you for your loyalty, your support and your unwavering friendship over the years. May God grant you many more years of good health and strength as you continue to serve our state.

Yesterday in Sacramento, I joined leaders of the State of California, members of the California State Legislature and members of the Nigerian community to celebrate the establishment of the California-Lagos Sister-State relationship. This agreement shows the strong connections that already exist between our people, especially the many Nigerians who have built lives and careers in California while continuing to contribute to Nigeria. Lagos and California have much in common. We are both centres of business, technology, entertainment, creativity, innovation and we share a strong connection to the coast. There is much we can learn from each other and even more we can build together. I was particularly pleased to celebrate with Nigerians who continue to make us proud in California, including California’s Transportation Secretary, Toks Omishakin, and former NBA champion Festus Ezeli. Their stories, along with those of many other Nigerians in California, show us that the relationship between Lagos and California has always been about people. My appreciation goes to Assemblymembers Matt Haney and Isaac Bryan for championing this resolution, Mayor Kevin McCarty of Sacramento, and everyone who helped make this important milestone possible. We look forward to turning this new relationship into real opportunities for our people and building an even stronger bridge between Lagos and California.

Infrastructure is at the heart of our development agenda in Lagos. Through deliberate investments and sustained work across the state, we are improving our roads, transportation infrastructure and critical infrastructure that supports commerce and keeps Lagos moving. These efforts reflect our commitment to building infrastructure that serves the needs of a growing Lagos and creates an environment where people and businesses can thrive. There is still more work to do and we remain focused on delivering A Greater Lagos for All.

Today, I joined members of the Yoruba Tennis Club to mark its 100th anniversary and spoke about the values that have shaped Lagos for generations. The Lagos Spirit has always been about courage, self-belief, resilience and the willingness to build when doors are closed. These values have guided our democratic journey and continue to shape how we govern. Over the last seven years, we have built on the work of those who came before us through our THEMES+ agenda, from transport and healthcare to education, technology, food security and economic development. Governance only matters if it improves daily life, whether that means a nurse in Alimosho getting to work on time, a student in Ajegunle having the books they need or a trader at Mile 12 getting goods to the market safely. That is the Lagos Spirit and it is what we will continue to build on. Continuity is the mark of progress. Change should bring better ideas and better results, not change for its own sake. Our challenge to the opposition is for them to show Lagosians ideas that can match or surpass what we have built. That is how democracy should work. We should compete on ideas, results and the future we can offer our people.

Today, I welcomed the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, alongside a high-powered delegation of party leaders to Lagos. As part of the nationwide consultations for the Tinubu 2027 project, we visited Iga Idunganran to pay homage to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Riliwanu Osuolale Babatunde Akiolu and to seek his blessings and guidance. This movement is powered by the visionary leadership and bold reforms of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His track record continues to inspire our vision for a better Nigeria. Lagos is the heartbeat of this movement and the support of our traditional institutions gives us the strength to keep pushing forward.

From strengthening our healthcare infrastructure to equipping our hospitals and supporting the dedicated professionals who serve our people, our administration remains committed to making quality healthcare more accessible to every Lagosian. We are investing in facilities, technology, emergency response and the people behind our healthcare system because a greater Lagos must be a healthier Lagos. We will continue to build a healthcare system that is resilient and fit for the Lagos of today and tomorrow.

Today, I joined Alhaji Aliko Dangote at the Nigerian Exchange Group in Lagos for the opening of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO. Today reinforces what we are building in Lagos. A city where businesses can grow, a city where investors can find opportunity and a city where major investments can take root. We remain committed to making it easier to do business in our state and strengthening our position as Nigeria’s leading investment destination. The listing of the Dangote Refinery, the first refinery to be offered on the Nigerian Exchange in its 66-year history, is another important step for our capital market and our economy. Our promise is to continue to create the environment for more investments, more businesses and more opportunities to thrive in Lagos.