Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described Oniru Business and Cultural Day as a model of how leadership can responsibly shape development, while expressing his deep appreciation for Oniru's dedication and purposeful leadership.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this on Saturday during the formal inauguration of the Oniru Business Council and the business session of the Cultural Day Celebration held at the Oniru Palace, Iru, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu remarked that his administration, over the years, has focused on strengthening the foundations of economic prosperity through the Theme+ Development agenda, especially as the nation approaches another electoral cycle when conversations about leadership, development and the future of the economy naturally take center stage.
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He said: “In Lagos, we have deliberately adopted the principle of an inclusive economy. The transformation of the Oniru axis tells a powerful story in itself. What was once largely residential and underdeveloped has become a major destination for hospitality, real estate, commerce and creative enterprise. This did not happen by chance. It is the product of strategic planning, strong collaboration with traditional institutions and investor confidence in the sustainability of Lagos.
“The Oniru Business and Cultural Day provides a model of how leadership can responsibly shape development. Kabiasi has shown that when traditional institutions provide stability and clarity of vision, investors respond positively. Communities grow. Culture becomes an asset and prosperity is shared. Your leadership confirms an eternal truth that tradition and progress are not opposing forces; they are complementary pillars on which lasting and sustainable development is built.”
The Governor explained that through targeted programs supporting SMEs, digital entrepreneurship, creative economy and vocational training, his administration is expanding pathways to prosperity and ensuring that growth is broad-based and not concentrated in the hands of a few, while he assured the business community that Lagos will remain open for business, stable and forward-looking even as the state heads into another election season.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Bada-Ambrose, described Lagos as a state built on heritage, enterprise, innovation and collaboration with traditional institutions remaining a key pillar in shaping community-driven development, fostering investment confidence and preserving cultural identity that promotes sustainable progress.
“The Oniru Business Network provides a platform for dialogue, alignment and shared accountability because government cannot act in isolation. Traditional institutions cannot remain isolated from economic transformation. The private sector cannot grow without regulatory clarity and infrastructure support. When these pillars work together, progress becomes inevitable,” he said.
Baba-Ambrose affirmed that the Kingdom continues to welcome investment in key sectors including manufacturing, technology, agricultural value chains, renewable energy, creative economy and financial services; Because it is committed to strengthening public-private partnerships to unlock infrastructure financing and improve competitiveness, including through regulatory reforms that protect investors while protecting the public interest.
His Royal Highness, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, OON, Oniru of Iru Kingdom, described the event as the institutional expression of a vision that has matured through years of reflection, consultation and deliberate engagement in his kingdom.
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“Over the past five years, in my interactions with stakeholders within Eru land, one message has been consistent and clear; development must be coordinated, dialogue must be structured, and prosperity must be inclusive. In every conversation, I hear the same aspiration. Our people desire development that benefits both host communities and investors and seek a system where opportunity expands without friction, where engagement replaces uncertainty, and collaboration replaces isolation. Takes.
“These recurring discussions point to a clear solution: partnerships built on trust, engagement sustained by structure, and progress guided by accountability. That solution takes institutional form through Oniru Business and Culture Day, guided by our enduring philosophy of peace through partnership. We gather not only to celebrate culture, but to create a platform where culture, commerce and community development reinforce each other,” he said.
