The California-Lagos Business & Investment Summit, themed “Building the California-Nigeria Business Bridge,” will bring government representatives, entrepreneurs, investors and members of the global African diaspora together in California from September 17 to 18, 2026, to deepen trade and investment links between California and Lagos State.

The private sector-led initiative is being powered by Afretrade Inc., the US Diaspora United Chamber of Commerce, NIED Group and the Office of Diaspora Affairs of Lagos State, with the organisers positioning the event as a major step towards turning growing economic relations between California and Nigeria into concrete commercial opportunities.

Also read: Chain Reactions Africa wins Large Consultancy prize, finishes third in Africa PR index

A key feature of the California-Lagos Business Summit will be a proposed trade pact involving the State of California and Lagos State, with the governors of both states expected to participate in the summit.

The organisers describe the agreement as a significant milestone in business diplomacy, reflecting efforts by both governments to encourage stronger trade, investment and commercial relationships.

The summit will also recognise the groundwork undertaken by the California State Transportation Agency, CalSTA, under California State Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, alongside the Office of Mark Henney and the Bay Area Council.

According to the organisers, the private sector is now seeking to build on those efforts by creating practical opportunities for businesses and investors on both sides of the Atlantic.

“Africa’s economy will only thrive through love, unity of purpose, and collaboration without subordination,” said Lekan Salaam, Chief Executive Officer of Afretrade.

“This Summit belongs to the entrepreneurs, investors, and diaspora leaders who turn goodwill into enterprise, and we are proud to celebrate this historic moment alongside the people of California and Lagos.”

Two major economic centres

The summit will highlight the scale and diversity of the two anchor economies.

California has an economy worth approximately US$4.1 trillion, according to the organisers, and is a global centre for technology, venture capital, entertainment, agriculture and advanced manufacturing.

Lagos, meanwhile, remains Nigeria’s commercial and financial powerhouse, with a large consumer market and a highly entrepreneurial population.

The organisers believe the differences between the two economies create opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships rather than competition.

Potential areas of cooperation include technology and fintech, trade and logistics, transportation infrastructure, entertainment and the creative economy, agriculture and agri-processing, renewable energy, real estate and urban development.

Small and medium-sized businesses and access to capital will also be central to discussions, with the summit designed to help companies explore market-entry opportunities in both California and Nigeria.

Two days of business and celebration

The programme will combine business discussions with a celebration of the emerging California-Nigeria relationship.

The main two-day summit will run from 9am to 5pm, featuring keynote addresses, high-level discussions, business panels, capital-raising sessions and matchmaking opportunities between entrepreneurs and investors.

An official celebration is scheduled to take place at the historic Stanford Mansion, where representatives of California, Lagos State and the business community will gather to mark the occasion.

The organisers have also planned a gala and award night at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, featuring cultural performances and other activities celebrating the partnership.

The programme will continue in San Francisco with a high-level diplomatic and business networking reception involving representatives of Lagos State.

The San Francisco gathering is intended to extend the relationship beyond the formal summit and encourage longer-term commercial engagement.

Diaspora and private sector focus

The summit is expected to attract CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, capital providers, small and medium-sized enterprises and Nigerian professionals based in the United States.

Members of the wider African-descent business community, trade specialists, policymakers and development leaders are also expected to participate.

For the organisers, the diaspora has an important role to play in connecting expertise, capital and commercial networks between Africa and the United States.

Afretrade said the summit represents an effort to move beyond diplomatic goodwill towards partnerships capable of generating investment, expanding businesses and creating new avenues for economic cooperation.

The event therefore comes at a potentially important moment for both Lagos and California, as businesses increasingly look beyond traditional markets for investment, technology and commercial partnerships.

Also read: Chain Reactions Africa wins Large Consultancy prize, finishes third in Africa PR index

By bringing public officials and private-sector leaders into the same forum, organisers hope the California-Lagos Business Summit will turn the California-Nigeria business bridge into a more durable channel for trade, investment and enterprise.