Lagos State and the State of California, United States, have signed a sister state agreement, which will see the two sub-nationals collaborate in various fields. The agreement was signed at a colourful ceremony in Sacramento, California, last Thursday. Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Assemblyman Matt Haney signed the document that symbolizes the beginning of a strong partnership between the two cities.
The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including the chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Appropriations Committee, Hon. LukmonSaheedOlumoh, and the chairman of the Public Accounts (State) Committee, Hon. Kehinde Joseph. Other attendees included Assembly member Isaac Bryan, Transportation Secretary ToksOmishakin, a Nigerian, Sacramento Mayor, Kevin McCarty, businessmen, and a host of Nigerians.
The sister state agreement was signed in the historic Leland Stanford Mansion, a 19,000-square-foot Victorian Era building, where leaders visiting from around the world are hosted in Sacramento. The mansion was built in 1856 and was the office of three governors in the 1860s, including Leland Stanford, the eighth governor of California (1862–1863). The ceremony featured a cultural performance, including a few minutes of the Eyo masquerade dance.
Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke about the significance of the partnership, drawing parallels between Lagos and California. He highlighted the tech sector, Nollywood and Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Yaba as areas of potential collaboration. Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as a city-state with a population of over 20 million people, which would be among the largest economies in Africa if it were a country.
Assemblyman Haney recalled visiting Yaba and spoke about his love for Afrobeats, mentioning Nigerian stars whose music thrilled him. He said he would always encourage people to visit Lagos, citing the limitless possibilities and opportunities in fashion, food, and culture, among others. Haney noted that Lagos and California have a lot to learn from each other, particularly given Nigeria's young population.
The sister state agreement between Lagos and California is expected to foster economic growth and cultural exchange between the two sub-nationals. With a GDP of about $259.75b, Lagos is Africa’s second-largest city economy, after Cairo, Egypt. California, on the other hand, is the largest state economy in the United States, accounting for about 14% of the total US economy, with a GDP of $4.25 to $4.3 trillion.
The partnership between Lagos and California is expected to yield significant benefits for both parties. Afretrade CEO Lekan Salaam spoke of his experience traveling to California and finding the American dream. He runs a company that encourages businesses to invest in Nigeria, highlighting the potential for economic growth and development.
Key points
- The sister state agreement between Lagos and California aims to foster collaboration in various fields, including technology, entertainment, and culture.
- The partnership is expected to yield significant economic benefits for both parties, given Lagos' GDP of $259.75b and California's GDP of $4.25 to $4.3 trillion.
- The agreement is also expected to promote cultural exchange between the two sub-nationals, with potential areas of collaboration in fashion, food, and culture.
