A private sector-led summit powered by Afretrade, the US Diaspora United Chamber of Commerce, NIED Group, and the Office of Diaspora Affairs of Lagos State, curated to celebrate, alongside the State of California and Lagos State, a landmark milestone in transatlantic economic partnership.
Afretrade Inc. today announced the California–Lagos Business & Investment Summit, themed “Building the California–Nigeria Business Bridge,” a private sector-led gathering convening Nigerian professionals and entrepreneurs together with the global business community, including members of the African diaspora and all those invested in the economic development of Africa in general, and Lagos in particular.
As part of the California-Lagos Business & Investment Summit, The state of California with an annual GDP of $4.2 trillion and Lagos State with a GDP of 62.66 trillion naira, are signing a trade pact lead by the governors of both states who will be present at the summit. This is a significant millestone in business diplomacy as these states, through their government demonstrate their willingness to enhance fluid business relations and investment between both countries.
The Summit is a privately curated initiative designed to celebrate, alongside the State of California and Lagos State, the milestone achieved through the combined efforts of the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), led by California State Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin; the Office of Mark Henney; and the Bay Area Council. The event honors the groundwork these institutions have laid, while the private sector steps forward to carry the relationship into commercial reality.
“Africa’s economy will only thrive through love, unity of purpose, and collaboration without subordination,” said Mr. Lekan Salaam, Chief Executive Officer of Afretrade. “This Summit belongs to the entrepreneurs, investors, and diaspora leaders who turn goodwill into enterprise, and we are proud to celebrate this historic moment alongside the people of California and Lagos.”
Two Economies, One Opportunity
The Summit spotlights the extraordinary scale and complementarity of its two anchor economies. California is the world’s fourth-largest economy, with a gross domestic product of approximately US$4.1 trillion, ranking behind only the United States, China, and Germany, and a global centre of technology, venture capital, entertainment, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing. Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, is Africa’s second-largest city economy after Cairo, with a GDP of approximately US$259 billion on a purchasing-power-parity basis and one of the youngest, most entrepreneurial populations on earth.
Together, these markets present powerful areas of synergy and business alignment: technology and fintech; trade, logistics, and transportation infrastructure; the creative and entertainment economy; agriculture and agri-processing; renewable energy; real estate and urban development; and access to capital for small and medium enterprises. The Summit is structured to translate these complementarities into concrete partnerships, investment, and market-entry pathways in both directions.
A Historic Two-Day Celebration
The two-day Business Summit, scheduled for September 17-18, will convene leaders across government, industry, and the diaspora for keynotes, high-level dialogue, panels, capital-raising sessions, and business matchmaking, running from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The official celebration will take place at the historic Stanford Mansion, in the presence of representatives of both states and the business community, honouring this memorable and historic day.
That same evening, the Gala and Award Night will be held at the prestigious Hyatt Regency Sacramento, the same location as the Business Summit, an occasion rich with cultural performances and festive moments to mark the achievement.
On Friday, the celebration continues in the Bay Area, in the city of San Francisco, with a high-level diplomatic and business networking reception hosted alongside representatives of Lagos State, extending the bridge from ceremony to sustained commercial and diplomatic engagement.
Who Will Attend
The Summit will bring together CEOs, entrepreneurs, and small and medium enterprises; investors and capital providers; Nigerian professionals and business owners based in the United States; members of the wider African-descent business community; and trade, policy, and development leaders committed to the economic advancement of Africa and of Lagos in particular.
About the Presenting Partners
Afretrade is a private-sector platform advancing trade, investment, and enterprise across the African and diaspora business community. The Summit is powered by Afretrade in partnership with the US Diaspora United Chamber of Commerce, NIED Group, and the Office of Diaspora Affairs of Lagos State.
