Tinubu Meets Diaspora Investor Bayo Ogunlesi in Lagos

President Bola Tinubu has moved to strengthen Nigeria’s global investment drive after hosting diaspora investor Bayo Ogunlesi, Chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners and Senior Managing Director at BlackRock, in Lagos on Monday. The meeting also featured Nigerian businessman Hakeem Belo-Osagie of Metis Capital, reflecting a concerted effort to engage with high-level investors at home and abroad.

According to the Presidency, discussions centered on unlocking large-scale investments in Nigeria’s oil, gas, and infrastructure sectors, which are considered vital for driving sustainable economic growth. Tinubu emphasized that his administration is determined to position Nigeria as Africa’s premier investment hub by collaborating with credible global partners.

“This afternoon in Lagos, I met with two of Nigeria’s most prominent global investment leaders, Hakeem Belo-Osagie of Metis Capital and Bayo Ogunlesi of Global Infrastructure Partners and BlackRock. We agreed on the urgency of unlocking large-scale investments in upstream oil and gas, and critical infrastructure that will shape Nigeria’s future,” Tinubu wrote on his official X account.

The President stressed that his economic reforms including the removal of fuel subsidy, exchange rate unification, and ongoing efforts to stabilize fiscal policy are part of a long-term strategy to create a more transparent and investor-friendly business environment.

Bayo Ogunlesi’s presence at the meeting was particularly significant. A Nigerian-born diaspora investor with decades of international finance experience, Ogunlesi is widely respected for his role in overseeing multi-billion-dollar infrastructure portfolios across aviation, energy, and utilities. His leadership at Global Infrastructure Partners, which recently became part of BlackRock, places him at the center of global capital flows into emerging markets.

For Nigeria, attracting diaspora investors like Ogunlesi carries symbolic and practical weight. Tinubu highlighted the importance of leveraging the expertise and resources of Nigerians in the diaspora to fast-track national development.

The President further assured that his administration’s reforms will continue to open new frontiers for sustainable financing, global partnerships, and transformative projects across strategic sectors.

Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has prioritized economic stabilization measures while courting international investors. Monday’s meeting in Lagos marks another step in consolidating these efforts by seeking commitments from globally influential Nigerians like Ogunlesi and Belo-Osagie.

Analysts say that if successful, such partnerships could accelerate Nigeria’s path toward energy independence, modern transport systems, and enhanced investor confidence, particularly at a time when the country is under pressure to deliver tangible economic improvements to its citizens.