The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with Lebanon and the Czech Republic in healthcare, tourism, technology transfer, investment and youth development.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, gave the assurance while receiving separate delegations led by the Consul General of Lebanon to Nigeria, H.E. Mr Mansour Chaya, and the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Nigeria, H.E. Mr Tomáš Vyprachtický, on courtesy visits in Lagos.
Salu-Hundeyin said that the collaborations was to accelerate economic growth and improve the quality of life of residents.
Welcoming the Lebanese delegation on behalf of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, she described Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and Africa’s leading investment destination.
According to her, although Lagos is Nigeria’s smallest state by landmass, it remains the country’s largest economy, with the highest concentration of foreign nationals and expatriates.
“The state government is committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses through improved infrastructure, enhanced security and governance reforms.
“We have the population, the market, the technology, security and governance structure that investors can rely on.
“We look forward to seeing more Lebanese participation in infrastructure, education and exchange programmes,” she said.
Salu-Hundeyin also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve transportation infrastructure, including the development of waterways to boost connectivity and economic activities across the state.
Responding, the Consul General of Lebanon to Nigeria, Chaya reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation with Lagos and Nigeria.
He said that the large Lebanese community in Nigeria, comprising many fourth and fifth-generation Lebanese Nigerians, remained a vital bridge for stronger bilateral relations.
According to him, the Lebanese mission is committed to promoting trade, investment, tourism, cultural exchanges and institutional partnerships between both countries.
“I have personally signed more than 1,000 visas in the last month for Nigerian passport holders travelling to Lebanon. This demonstrates the growing interaction between our peoples,” he said.
Chaya advocated stronger collaboration through bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding, noting that closer ties between Lagos and Beirut could boost business, tourism and cultural exchanges.
“We want to see more Lebanese companies coming to Nigeria and more Nigerian businesses exploring opportunities in Lebanon.
“Our objective is to facilitate trade and investment by creating the right ecosystem that allows businesses to operate in a secure and predictable environment,” he said.
During the visit by the Czech delegation, Salu-Hundeyin said that Lagos was ready to deepen collaboration with the Czech Republic in healthcare, technology and other strategic sectors.
She said that the state was executing major healthcare infrastructure projects, including what would become the largest children’s hospital in sub-Saharan Africa.
“This presents opportunities for collaboration, and you may wish to explore areas where your expertise and technology can contribute,” she said.
The SSG also welcomed ongoing collaboration between Czech medical technology company, BTL Industries and the Lagos State University, encouraging wider engagement with healthcare professionals through government-supported training programmes.
Earlier, the Ambassador of Czech Republic to Nigeria, Vyprachtický said that the Republic was keen to facilitate business partnerships and expand cooperation with Lagos, particularly in healthcare.
He said that Czech Republic possessed extensive expertise in industrial manufacturing, medical technology, energy and information technology that could support Nigeria’s development priorities.
According to him, BTL Industries is already supplying hospital beds and medical equipment to Nigeria, as the Republic promotes technology transfer, capacity building and local technical support.
“We are building on a long-standing legacy of cooperation. Our objective is to deepen Czech engagement across sub-Saharan Africa, and Nigeria remains one of our key partners in that effort,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Dere Awosika, the Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Nigeria, said that discussions extended beyond healthcare to technology-driven, vocational education and youth empowerment.
Awosika said that the proposed collaboration would leverage digital platforms to equip young people with practical vocational and technological skills required in the modern economy.
“We are committed to partnering not only with the Lagos State University but also with the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to identify areas where our youths can benefit.
“Whether it is carpentry, joinery or other vocational trades, technology can be deployed to provide training and the appropriate digital skills needed to succeed in today’s world,” she said.
The meetings ended with both sides expressing optimism that stronger cooperation would create new opportunities in healthcare, tourism, education, technology transfer, infrastructure development, trade and investment, while advancing the Greater Lagos vision.
