Lagos remains beating heart of Africa’s digital economy, says Sanwo-Olu

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

Governor of Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared that Lagos has firmly established itself as the “beating heart of Africa’s digital economy,” stressing that the state is ready for more infrastructure investment to drive innovation and economic growth.

Sanwo-Olu made the remarks on Tuesday during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Kasi Cloud Hyperscale Data Center Campus in Lekki, according to a statement signed by Gboyega Akosile, where he reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for technology-driven investments.

According to the governor, Lagos is positioning itself as a major destination for cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure, urging global investors and technology partners to take advantage of opportunities in the state.

“Lagos is open for infrastructure investment, and we honour the commitments we make. If you are building cloud infrastructure, Lagos wants to work with you. If you are building AI infrastructure, Lagos wants to work with you. Enabling infrastructure is not charity; it is economic strategy,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor noted that over the last decade, Lagos has evolved into a hub for innovation and digital enterprise in Africa, producing globally recognised technology companies despite infrastructural and operational challenges.

“Today, Lagos is already the data-center capital of Nigeria, commanding a substantial share of the nation’s installed capacity. Connectivity lands here. Enterprise demand lives here. Innovation grows here. Capital gathers here,” he stated.

He added that the next phase of the global digital economy would be driven by cities that deliberately invest in enabling infrastructure at scale, describing the Kasi Cloud campus as a strategic addition to Lagos’ technology ecosystem.

Sanwo-Olu also highlighted the role of government policies in attracting critical infrastructure investments, citing the Lagos State Electricity Law as one of the reforms aimed at supporting industrial growth and digital infrastructure.

According to him, the state government has also invested in fibre-optic connectivity, digital skills development, innovation funding and stronger public-private collaboration to sustain growth in the technology sector.

In a follow-up post on his verified social media handles after the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated Lagos’ commitment to digital infrastructure and innovation-driven growth.

According to him, Lagos has grown into the centre of Africa’s digital economy because of the resilience and innovation of its people, stressing that the state must continue investing in infrastructure that supports enterprise and technological advancement.

“This is how we build a true 21st-century economy for Lagos and, ultimately, for Nigeria,” the governor stated.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, described the commissioning of the data centre as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s economic modernisation and digital transformation drive.

“The project is a national infrastructure that strengthens the foundation for innovation and expansion opportunities for enterprise and enhances productivity across sectors and positions Nigeria as a competitive player in an increasingly AI-driven world,” Oyedele said.

Also speaking, Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Tunbosun Alake, said the state government remains committed to creating a friendly environment for investors through strategic investments in technology infrastructure.

He noted that the state was investing in fibre optics, data centres, smart technology initiatives and innovation programmes in universities to strengthen the startup ecosystem and promote local technology creation.

Earlier, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kasi Cloud, Johnson Agogbua, said the establishment of the hyperscale data centre was aimed at advancing technological development and innovation in Nigeria.