July 08, (THEWILL) — The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has called on expatriates in Nigeria to collaborate with both federal and state governments to drive economic growth.
Speaking at the 2025 Expatriates Business Awards (TEBA) held at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Obasa stressed the need for synergy between private sector players—especially expatriates—and host governments to spur development.
He noted that the influence of expatriates has been pivotal to Lagos’ rapid urban and industrial growth, and that the state has created a conducive environment where they enjoy quality living, business opportunities, and thriving tourism.
Highlighting Lagos’ tourism gains, the Speaker said last year’s “Detty December” attracted 1.2 million visitors and generated about ₦416 billion ($71.6 million) in revenue.
Commending TEBA for honouring expatriates contributing to Nigeria’s economy, Obasa reiterated that Lagos remains a hub where foreign investors can thrive.
TEBA Director, Odunola Abayomi, said the awards celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of foreigners driving Nigeria’s economy.
She added that TEBA plans to launch mentorship programmes and an Expatriate Enterprise Index to track foreign-led impact across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Expatriates honoured at the 2025 TEBA included Georg Eder, Manoj Tagjiani, Riyah Abdul, Pascale Tafqa, Arvind Pathak, and Ronya Man, among others. Corporate honourees included Turkish Airlines, AVSATEL, MACE Industries, CCECC, and Nigerbirds Engineering.
The event was attended by a broad section of the expatriate community, including diplomats, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
