The summit, themed “Lagos: The Business Gateway into Africa”, is being convened by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), under the leadership of Samantha Cohen, the chief executive officer, bringing together global investors, policymakers, development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, private sector leaders, innovators and strategic partners from across Africa, the Commonwealth, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

Invest Lagos 3.0 is being hosted under the visionary leadership of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with distinguished participation from global business leaders including Lord Marland of Odstock, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, and Summit Co-Chair, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings Plc.

The Local Organizing Committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose- Medebem, alongside the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Samuel Egube.

As Co-Chair of the Technical & Programmes Committee, Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji who holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School will provide strategic leadership for the summit’s intellectual architecture, programme design, innovation ecosystems engagement, deal rooms set up and work flows, thought leadership curation, stakeholder partnerships and technology-driven policy actionable conversations shaping the future of investment and economic transformation in Lagos and across Africa.

Her appointment signals a strong emphasis on the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, data governance, youth innovation, creative economies, smart infrastructure, and inclusive economic growth as critical drivers of Africa’s next development decade.

Speaking on her appointment, Dr. Akerele-Ogunsiji stated:

“Lagos is not merely a city state, it is one of the most important economic and cultural capitals of the Global South. Invest Lagos 3.0 presents a defining opportunity to position Lagos as Africa’s most compelling destination for investment, innovation, enterprise, technology, infrastructure, talent, and sustainable development.

At a time when artificial intelligence, data systems, digital public infrastructure, renewable energy, climate resilience, creative industries and human capital are redefining global competitiveness, Lagos must continue to lead the conversation on how African cities can become globally connected engines of prosperity, inclusion and innovation.”

She further emphasized the importance of data intelligence and strategic investment coordination in shaping the summit’s outcomes:

“This summit is not just about conversations; it is about execution, measurable impact and long-term economic value creation. Through robust technical programming, strategic policy dialogue, investment intelligence dashboards, and cross-sector collaboration, we are building a platform that aligns capital with opportunity and transforms ideas into scalable results for Lagos, Nigeria and the African continent.”

Dr. Akerele-Ogunsiji brings decades of experience spanning governance, youth development, public policy, innovation ecosystems, digital transformation, education reform, entrepreneurship, media, and international development.

She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rise Networks and Rise Interactive Studios Africa, institutions that have impacted thousands of young Africans through technology, enterprise development, digital skills, civic leadership, and creative innovation.

She also holds a PhD in Defence and Strategic Studies with research focused on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on Nigeria’s National and Economic Security within the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Invest Lagos 3.0 is expected to convene global leaders across finance, infrastructure, technology, trade, energy, manufacturing, mobility, healthcare, education, tourism, real estate, the creative economy, and public policy, further reinforcing Lagos State’s position as Africa’s premier destination for business, innovation, and investment.

This groundbreaking production has already garnered global attention with an international teaser screening at the 2024 Global AI Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a private stakeholders’ viewing at the Kenya Innovation Week 2024, and an exclusive screening at the residence of the U.S. Consul General in Lagos leading up to the Global Inclusivity and AI Africa Conference.

Now, Nigerian audiences will be the first to experience its full cinematic debut after its nationwide cinema release on the 18th of April 2025, followed by an international rollout across other African countries, U.S., Europe and the Middle East, in May 2025.

Featuring an unconventional and exciting mix of Nollywood’s brightest stars, tech industry experts, public officials and emerging talents from the social media space, Makemation is a four-quadrant family drama that distinctively blends pop culture, research and AI into a high-tension, inspiring and comedic masterpiece.

The coming-of-age film takes audiences on an emotional, thought-provoking, and hilarious journey, highlighting how young Africans are leveraging world-class technology to tackle some of the continent’s most wicked problems.

Produced by a gifted and vibrant team of young creatives, many in their 20s and 30s, Makemation goes beyond entertainment to explore critical themes such as STEM education, digital skills, financial literacy, and gender equality.

The film also advocates for greater accessibility to technology, inclusion of disadvantaged populations, and equitable healthcare driven by locally developed solutions.

“Makemation is more than just a film; it’s a movement. We want to spark conversations, drive policy changes, and engage young minds—students, teachers, parents—on the transformative power of AI and the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution. As Gen Zs and Gen Alphas shape the future, this is Nigeria and Africa’s moment to take the lead in the global digital revolution. Through this film, we invite the world to see the intersection of Nigeria’s creative and digital economies through our ambitions and traditions – and co-create the best of AI tools that will serve the interest of humanity,” says Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, the renowned AI for Development expert and global thought leader who created and produced Makemation. The Film is directed by the young, multi-award-winning Filmmaker, Michael “AMA PSALMIST” Akinrogunde.

Shot across diverse, visually stunning locations – including newly built sets in rural, riverine communities, as well as some of Lagos’ most exclusive highbrow areas and never-before-seen spaces —Makemation stands out with its exceptional storytelling, original score, striking production design, humor, and deeply insightful themes. It’s a culturally fit movie created to captivate audiences of all ages, ethnic groups and religions, combining entertainment with education in an unprecedented way.

As Makemation prepares for cinemas worldwide, audiences are invited not just to watch but to immerse themselves in a cinematic experience that will redefine Africa’s future through art and technology.

Produced by Rise Interactive Studios & Rise Networks, two visionary sister organizations dedicated to showcasing Africa’s innovation potential, the film sends a clear message: It’s tomorrow already here in Africa, and Nigeria’s youth will not be left behind in the technological transformation reshaping the world.

Makemation is exclusively distributed by Nile Entertainment, led by consummate film entrepreneur, Moses Babatope. When it starts showing in cinemas worldwide, don’t just watch it with your Family, Work Colleagues and Friends – hold on tight to the laughter and lessons, join the conversation on makemation.com and follow @makemationfilm across all social media platforms.

The high-level event, held in Lagos brought together industry leaders, government officials, the European diplomatic community in Nigeria and tech advocates to reinforce Glovo’s commitment to bridging the gender gap in the tech industry and making a lasting impact in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

In her opening remarks, Lamide Akinola, general manager of Glovo Nigeria, highlighted the company’s commitment to advancing gender diversity and creating pathways for women to thrive in tech-driven roles.

“At Glovo, we believe in a future where women are integral drivers of innovation, especially in tech. We recognize that the challenges women face in tech go beyond technical skills; they include barriers rooted in access, opportunity, and sometimes, the confidence to take bold steps. Today’s event is our way of saying – We see those barriers, and we’re here to help break them down with you. As the leading multicategory app with a vision to build the largest online marketplace to give everyone access to anything in their city within minutes; we believe that empowering women with digital skills is essential—not only for driving innovation and growth but for building communities where everyone can thrive,” she shared.

Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, the commissioner, Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, Lagos State (LSMCCTI) delivered a powerful keynote address which underscored the importance of public-private partnerships in unlocking opportunities for women.

“Today’s gathering signifies more than just advocacy; it is a rallying cry to reimagine the future of innovation by ensuring no one is left behind, particularly women, who represent half of our population. Studies reveal that bridging the gender gap in technology could add up to $12 trillion to global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025. This staggering figure underscores that empowering women in tech is not just a moral imperative; it is an economic necessity. In Lagos State, a hub of innovation and economic activity, we understand that inclusion is a catalyst for sustainable growth. However, achieving this requires intentional strategies and robust partnerships. We are excited to work with Glovo and She Code Africa to deliver a program that opens doors for women to excel, innovate, and lead. This initiative also aligns with the mandate of our Ministry to foster innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, and support the development of skilled talent across industries, including technology,” said Mrs. Ambrose-Medebem.

A key highlight of the day was the Panel Discussion on “Breaking Barriers in Tech & Beyond”, featuring inspiring women leaders, including Lamide Akinola (GM, Glovo Nigeria), Ada Oyom (Founder, She Code Africa), Sonia Odije-Fajusigbe (Economic Policy Adviser, Consulate General of the Netherlands, Lagos), Wendy Okam (Director, Business Development, Ellington Bank UAE), Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji (Founder, RISE Networks), and Mojirayo Folarin-Lawal (Head, Funding and Partnerships, LSETF). The panelists shared insights on overcoming challenges, fostering community support, and building sustainable careers, with a focus on equipping more women to drive innovation across sectors.

Ada Oyom, Founder of She Code Africa, shared her enthusiasm for the partnership.

“As the technical partners of the Women in Tech Bootcamp Program, we are thrilled to collaborate with Glovo and the Lagos State Government to run this 12 week intensive program and create impactful pathways for women in tech. Glovo’s commitment to gender diversity is commendable, and we call on like-minded companies to invest in initiatives that empower the future of women in technology. Together, we can build a more inclusive and innovative tech ecosystem”.

A virtual address by Shiro Theuri, Glovo’s Chief Technology Officer, underscored the brand’s steadfast commitment to diversity in technology.

As a woman leading Glovo’s technological vision, Shiro’s role exemplifies the possibilities and impact of fostering inclusive environments.

Her address highlighted Glovo’s dedication to empowering women in leadership roles and building diverse teams that drive innovation and success in the tech industry.

Through her inspiring journey, Shiro showcased how Glovo’s focus on diversity is not just an ideal but a lived reality, paving the way for a more inclusive future in technology.

This dedication to “walking the talk” is evident in Glovo’s strategic efforts to create opportunities for women across its operations, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it aims to set a new standard for inclusivity in tech.

Glovo’s Women in Tech initiative aims to ignite interest in tech careers by highlighting the flexibility, creativity, and impact of a modern tech environment.

To achieve this, Glovo focuses on three pillars: facilitating bootcamps for women without technical backgrounds to prepare them for junior tech roles; breaking gender stereotypes through community engagement, such as office visits that inspire young girls with female role models; and acting as a career catalyst by offering internships to top bootcamp participants.

A major highlight was the announcement of a mentorship program for the participants of the Women in Tech Bootcamp, facilitated by Glovo and She Code Africa.

This initiative ensures that, even after completing the bootcamp, participants will have ongoing access to mentorship, supporting their journey toward careers in technology.

This mentorship aligns closely with the broader goals of Glovo’s Women in Tech initiative across the globe, which aims to make an impact by empowering the next generation of women in tech.

Chidera Akwuba, regional head, Government & Public Relations, Sub-Saharan Africa at Glovo, highlighted the transformative impact of Glovo’s Women in Tech initiative, stating,

“When you empower a woman, you empower a community, a nation, and ultimately, the world. This initiative is made possible through the invaluable partnership of the Lagos State Government via the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, and our technical partner She Code Africa. Together, we are building an inclusive tech ecosystem that values diversity, fosters innovation, and inspires the next generation of female leaders to drive meaningful change in technology and beyond.”

The ceremony concluded with special remarks from William Benthall, Global Director Government Relations, Glovo; Laura Mensah-Oniru, Executive Secretary of Eurocham; and Sherifah Balogun, Director of Strategy, Funding, and Stakeholder Management at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), who emphasized the importance of a supportive digital ecosystem for women and how private-public sector partnerships can be structured to drive sustainable economic growth, foster innovation, and bridge the gender gap in technology.

Through programs like the Women in Tech Bootcamp initiative, Glovo, in partnership with Lagos State government remains dedicated to creating pathways for women in tech and building an ecosystem where women’s contributions drive meaningful change.

World’s most prominent policymakers, leading investors, policy thought leaders, and innovators working to deploy AI by exploring the state of AI, investment cases, commitments, and governance to bring AI solutions to a global scale, will be present at the 3day event.

Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Founder of Rise Networks and a PhD Researcher at the Nigerian Defense Academy generating insights on Nigeria’s Defense Transformation & National Security by leveraging technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution like Artificial Intelligence, Predictive Analytics, Cybersecurity and Drone Surveillance and  will be offering her expert opinion as a Speaker at the second edition of the global AI summit themed around AI NOW, AI NEXT, and AI NEVER.

This is a subject she has over the years been at the forefront of actively advocating for especially in terms of the powerful nature of Artificial Intelligence and how Africa can leverage it to fast track its development, drive efficiency within its systems, build sustainable talent pipelines and improve the global competitiveness of its citizens who hone their skills in the field.

In her quest to democratize the knowledge of Ai and other technologies of the fourth Industrial Revolution, she pivoted the erstwhile Youth development company, Rise Networks into a Data Science and Ai Research, Training, Advisory and Consulting Enterprise dedicated to the upskilling and reskilling of professionals and organizations across industries and the public sector.

Africa ‘s Tech Media Giant, techcabal.com in its technical talent landscape research listed Rise Networks as part of the 25 Key Players in Nigeria’s technical Talent Industry.

Rise Networks has trained thousands of young People in Subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Analytics and Visualization and Product Design, they designed and built ISE, the first job chatbot in West Africa, which was listed as part of the AI Mentoring in the Workplace Working Group of the UN AI for Good Project in 2019 and are currently building Africa’s first Artificial Intelligence enabled fact checking app for elections, with support from MacArthur Foundation.

At the second edition of the Global AI summit, Toyosi’s Session will address making AI Accessible to eliminate the digital divide and how Communities can empower youth leaders through AI education, programs and hackathons.

Toyosi is part of the 200 Experts from over 70 Countries including Amin Nasser, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Aramco Anna Patterson, Vice President of Engineering of Google, Kent Larson, Director of City Science, MIT Media Lab, Prof. Fengchun Miao, Chief, Unit for Technology and AI in Education, Education Sector, UNESCO, Tanuj Gupta, Head of Artificial Intelligence, Philips, Anima Anandkumar, Professor and Senior Director of Ai Research at Caltech and Nvidia, Dr. Carl Benedict Frey, Founding Director, Future of Work Programme, Oxford Martin School, Oxford University, Baiju Devani, Dr. Sridhar, Muppidi, CTO, IBM Security Global Company, Dr. Tarek, El-Ghazawi, Professor and Chair of Department, Electrical and Chair Engineering, the George Washington University and Sara Rendtorff-Smith, Chief Policy Advisor – Tech, Peace and Security, Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations.

Others are; Dr. Qi Tian, Chief Scientist in Artificial Intelligence, Huawei Cloud and AI, Dr. Guy Diedrich SVP and Global Innovation Officer, Cisco, Dr. Michael May, Head of Data Analytics and AI, Siemens, Technology invited by the Saudi Data and AI Authority to set the Agenda for the impact of AI on the good of humanity. The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa from Nigeria will also be speaking at the epoch-making event.

The Global AI Summit is in its second year and professionals can benefit from the work sessions, panel discussions, and related workshops.

According to Arabnews.com, the first Global AI Summit was held two years ago, with over 200 experts and decision-makers participating over two days and including talks of global importance.

The summit was attended by more than 13,000 people and its views went on social networks, commanding 5 million hits.