Lagos unveils Global Safety Summit to drive Megacity transformation

The Lagos State Government will on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, host the Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health (LASOSH) Conference, a high-level gathering designed to reposition safety as a central pillar of the state’s economic and social transformation.

Themed “Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) as a Catalyst for Nation Building,” the landmark event, organised by the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSC), will take place at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, and will bring together global leaders, policymakers, industry experts, and development partners.

According to the organisers, the conference comes at a crucial time in Lagos’s development journey, as the state grapples with rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion, and rising population density.

These factors, they noted, have heightened risks ranging from building collapses and transport accidents to industrial hazards, large gatherings, and emergencies in informal sectors.

The summit will move beyond dialogue to concrete policy action, aligning safety governance with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s broader vision of transforming Lagos into Africa’s model megacity and a global economic hub that is safe, secure, and resilient.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Director General of the Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, underscored the strategic importance of the conference.

“Occupational Safety and Health is not just about compliance; it is about protecting lives, preserving dignity, and driving Lagos’s growth story. At LASOSH 2025, we are going beyond rhetoric and building a Lagos where safety is a culture, innovation drives resilience, and every life is valued,” he said.

The programme will feature an address by Governor Sanwo-Olu, a keynote speech on OSH as a cornerstone of sustainable nation-building, and a special policy dialogue led by Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, on financing safety through public–private partnerships.

Global representatives from Canada, Germany, Sweden, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States will also share lessons from international best practices.

Panel and discourse sessions will explore sector-specific safety standards, as well as the future of work in balancing innovation, technology, and health. Companies such as Google, Ernst & Young, Lafarge, and BUA Group are expected to participate.

Expected outcomes from the conference include stronger legislation, safer workplaces, improved emergency preparedness, reduced accident rates, and greater economic productivity. By mainstreaming safety into urban planning, industrial operations, and social development, the state hopes to secure investor confidence while safeguarding the lives of its residents.

The LASOSH Conference 2025 is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island.