Africa Aware: What can Lagos teach us about Africa’s emerging megacities?

Lagos State Governor HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu discusses how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context.

Audio

Published 20 August 2026 — 25 minute listen

HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu

Governor, Lagos State, Federal Republic of Nigeria

By 2050, many of the world’s fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out as one of the world’s leading megacities.  
 
In this episode, the governor of Lagos State, HE Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu joins Africa Programme Director and this week’s host, Tighisti Amare, to discuss how Lagos is developing solutions to manage rapid population growth and deliver infrastructure at scale – all catered to its unique context. 

About Africa Aware 

Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. 

You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.