By Peace Udugba
Lagos Governor to Deliver Keynote on Diaspora Investment
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Global Transformation and Good Governance Prize by the Millennium Excellence Award USA.
The award was announced in a letter delivered by the Board of Directors of the Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF), which said Governor Sanwo-Olu was selected following a rigorous assessment of his achievements and the developmental progress recorded in Lagos State under his administration.
According to the foundation, the award is one of the prestigious honours presented under its auspices.
The letter stated: “The Board has unanimously resolved to confer upon His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu one of the most prestigious honours bestowed under the auspices of the Foundation – the Global Transformation and Good Governance Prize by the Millennium Excellence Award USA.”
The award ceremony will be held at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, August 29, 2026, with the red carpet scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
The honour is being conferred under the royal patronage of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene of Kumasi. The Asantehene is expected to personally present the award alongside Her Royal Highness Lady Julia, Queen Consort.
The Millennium Excellence Awards USA recognises individuals of African heritage and global contributors who have made significant contributions to business, science, the arts, philanthropy and public service.
As part of his engagements in Washington, Governor Sanwo-Olu will deliver a keynote address on positioning Lagos State, Africa’s largest sub-national economy, to attract greater investment from the diaspora.
His presentation will highlight opportunities in urban infrastructure, finance and the state’s pipeline of investment-ready projects.
The Lagos governor will also participate in other sessions, including “Government Addresses: The Political Will Behind the Deal,” as well as plenaries and roundtable discussions aimed at strengthening economic and social ties between Lagos State and the diaspora.
Past laureates of the Millennium Excellence Awards include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. Kofi Annan, Mo Ibrahim, Prof. Wole Soyinka, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu and former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.
