Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called for a strengthened partnership with the World Bank to accelerate development initiatives across critical sectors of the state’s economy.

The governor made the appeal during an engagement with World Bank officials, emphasizing the need for enhanced collaboration to drive transformative projects in energy, agriculture, tourism, and human capital development.

Sanwo-Olu highlighted Lagos State’s ambitious development agenda and the strategic importance of international partnerships in achieving the administration’s goals of making Lagos a 21st-century economy and improving the quality of life for its estimated 20 million residents.

“We are seeking a deeper and more robust partnership with the World Bank to support our development priorities. Lagos has unique challenges due to its population size and economic significance, and we believe the World Bank’s expertise and resources can help us achieve breakthrough results,” the governor stated.

In the energy sector, Sanwo-Olu outlined the state’s need for support in expanding electricity access, promoting renewable energy solutions, and building resilient power infrastructure to support economic activities and improve residents’ quality of life. Lagos currently faces significant energy challenges despite being Nigeria’s commercial capital.

For agriculture, the governor emphasized opportunities for modernizing farming practices, improving food security, and creating jobs for young people through agribusiness initiatives. He noted that despite its urban character, Lagos has agricultural potential that remains underutilized.

On tourism, Sanwo-Olu pointed to Lagos’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene, and coastal attractions as assets that could generate significant revenue and employment if properly developed with international technical and financial support.

Perhaps most critically, the governor stressed the importance of human capital development, particularly in education, healthcare, and skills acquisition. He noted that investing in people remains the foundation for sustainable economic growth and social progress.

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“Our young population is our greatest asset, and we must equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to compete in the global economy. The World Bank’s experience in human capital development across different countries can help us design and implement programs that deliver measurable results,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Lagos State government has been implementing various reforms aimed at improving the business environment, enhancing infrastructure, and delivering better public services. However, officials acknowledge that the scale of needs requires substantial external support and expertise.

The World Bank has maintained a longstanding relationship with Nigeria and has supported various projects at both federal and state levels. Lagos, as the country’s economic hub, represents a strategic priority for development interventions that can have ripple effects across the nation.

World Bank representatives reportedly expressed willingness to explore expanded cooperation with Lagos State, noting the importance of subnational engagement in achieving development outcomes in large, diverse countries like Nigeria.

The potential partnership could involve financial support, technical assistance, capacity building for state institutions, and knowledge sharing based on global best practices in urban development and governance.

As discussions continue, stakeholders will be watching to see what concrete programs and projects emerge from the engagement and how they contribute to addressing Lagos State’s pressing development challenges.