Lagos, California sign sister-state agreement, set for wider collaboration

Lagos State and the State of California in the United States have formally established a sister-state relationship aimed at deepening cooperation in technology, creative industries, education, trade, infrastructure, climate action, health and entrepreneurship.

The agreement was signed on Thursday in Sacramento by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and California Assemblymember Matt Haney at a ceremony held at the historic Leland Stanford Mansion.

The partnership follows the passage of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 129 (ACR 129), authored by Haney and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan. The resolution was approved by the California Legislature and formally chaptered by the Secretary of State on June 10, 2026.

The California Senate Office of International Relations lists Lagos State among California’s formal sister-state relationships established in 2026.

Witnesses at the signing included Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Appropriations, Lukmon Saheed Olumoh; Chairman of the Public Accounts (State) Committee, Kehinde Joseph; Assemblymember Isaac Bryan; California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin; Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty; Afretrade CEO Lekan Salaam; and other officials, business leaders and members of the Nigerian community.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu highlighted similarities between Lagos and California, particularly their technology and creative sectors, ports, young populations and exposure to climate-related challenges.

The governor compared Lagos’ Yaba technology ecosystem with California’s Silicon Valley, Nollywood with Hollywood, and the Lekki Port with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

He said the partnership would provide an opportunity for both regions to exchange knowledge and expertise.

“California has Hollywood; Lagos has Nollywood. California has Silicon Valley; Lagos has Yaba,” Sanwo-Olu said, adding that both regions face climate-related challenges and therefore have “things to teach each other, and things to learn.”

Haney, who had previously visited Yaba, also highlighted the cultural and economic links between the two regions. He said opportunities existed for collaboration in areas including fashion, food, culture and technology.

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The California resolution identifies several areas for cooperation, including digital innovation, creative and cultural industries, climate and environmental stewardship, education and research, trade and urban development, health and biotechnology, entrepreneurship, and sustainable agriculture and food systems.

The resolution also points to the large Nigerian-American community in California as an important link between the two regions and seeks to promote investment, business networks, skills development and people-to-people exchanges.

Afretrade CEO Lekan Salaam, who also attended the ceremony, spoke about his experience of travelling to California as a young man and finding opportunities there. He said his organisation now works to encourage investment and business links with Nigeria.

The ceremony also featured a cultural performance, including an Eyo masquerade display and traditional Yoruba music and drumming.

The partnership brings together two major economic and cultural centres. California’s Legislature described the state as the world’s fourth-largest economy, while Lagos is recognised in the resolution as Nigeria’s most populous state and a major centre for commerce, innovation, entertainment and finance in Africa.

The new sister-state relationship is expected to provide a formal framework for cooperation and exchanges between Lagos and California across the identified sectors.