Sanwo-Olu Highlights Lagos as Catalyst for Africa’s Urban Growth at Harvard Forum

Speaking at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, hosted by the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics in Boston, Massachusetts, the governor said Lagos represents a clear signal that Africa’s urban future is already unfolding.

The forum, themed “Africa’s Urban Future: Cities at the Crossroads of Growth and Resilience,” was co-sponsored by the Harvard University Center for African Studies and the Bloomberg Center for Cities.

According to Sanwo-Olu, Africa is experiencing an unprecedented urban expansion, with cities growing at an annual rate of 3.5 percent — the fastest globally after Asia. He noted that with 30 percent of the world’s critical minerals and a rapidly growing youthful population, the continent is well positioned for transformational growth.