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Pic From left, Founder and Chief Responsibility Officer of Ruff 'n' Tumble, Mrs Adenike Ogunlesi; Managing Director and Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Mr Bolaji Lawal; Founder Design Week Lagos, Ms Titi Ogufure; Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem; Founder of Majeurs Holdings and SUSU Studios, Ms Demi Samande; Managing Director, Lekki Worldwide Investment Ltd, Mr Adeniyi Akinlusi and Deputy Managing Director Lekki Free Zone Development Company (LFZDC), Mrs Bolatito Ajibode at the Presentation and Unveiling of a book titled: "In Her Hands; Shaping the Future of Manufacturing in Africa" written by Demi Samande at the Design and Innovation Exhibition in Lagos on Tuesday
By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Government has launched Operation Quadrant Ignite (OQI), a bold initiative aimed at transforming the Lekki Economic Zone (LEZ) into Africa’s leading hub for manufacturing, trade and investment.
Speaking at the Design and Innovation Exhibition, organised by Design Week Lagos at Victoria Island, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose, highlighted that OQI forms a central part of the state’s industrialisation strategy.
She emphasised that Lekki has long been envisioned as the industrial heart of Lagos, leveraging the state’s strategic location, abundant resources, and robust infrastructure.
Ambrose explained that through OQI, the government intends to unlock the full potential of the Lekki Economic Zone, optimising land use and repurposing underutilised assets to drive productivity.
She stressed that the initiative goes beyond mere land development, aiming to create a comprehensive industrial ecosystem that promotes innovation, efficiency, and global competitiveness.
A key feature of OQI is the establishment of a Catalytic Fund designed to support industrial projects with significant growth potential. This fund will attract investments from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), private equity firms, and venture capitalists, helping businesses scale rapidly while ensuring local enterprises benefit from the growth.
The commissioner further noted that the project would capitalise on the strategic significance of the Lekki Deep Sea Port, positioning Lagos as a hub for export-driven manufacturing. OQI will also focus on integrating efficient logistics, state-of-the-art port facilities, and seamless trade to enhance the state’s economic output.
Ambrose concluded that Operation Quadrant Ignite is not merely a policy initiative, but also a tangible effort by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to actively shape a more prosperous and globally competitive Lagos.
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