Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says for Africa to fully reap economic benefits of its business relationship with the United Kingdom (UK) and be in position for genuine global development, both must become equal trade partners.
Sanwo-Olu, spoke with journalists on the side-line of the UK-Africa investment summit which opened in London on Monday, also restated the readiness of his administration back home, to open up new opportunities for investors towards improving the GDP of the state and its people.
The Lagos State governor, and his Ogun State counterpart, Dapo Abiodun, as well as the minister of minister of industry, trade and investment, Niyi Adebayo are in the company of President Muhammadu Buhari to the UK-Africa investment summit.
Also attending the summit are African leaders, international business executives and heads of international organisations. The event is aimed at creating new partnerships that will deliver more investments and jobs to the benefit of people and businesses in African countries and the United Kingdom.
According to Sanwo-Olu, “It is truly a function of who is a partner, who stands and sees you as a fellow partner, not behind, not in front but standing right beside you and seeing you and the challenges you have and asking how we can work together. These points truly suggest that we can begin to see true partnership come out of conversations like this.”
Continuing, he said: “For us, it is to see what type of giver you are; are you seeing us as equal partners or master to servant relationship. At the end of the day, what we will be seeking to achieve is the greatest good for the greatest number. What are those additional benefits that we see and believe that have potentials to improve the lives of our people”
The governor also noted that it is a major opportunity for Africans, most of all Lagos, stating that if the summit is not properly tapped, it could be transferred somewhere else.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the state government is open for transactions that will make Lagos better, emphasising on the importance of time.
JOSHUA BASSEY
