Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has joined leaders of California, members of the California State Legislature and representatives of the Nigerian community in Sacramento to celebrate the establishment of a formal sister-state relationship between Lagos and California.
Epe Insights reports that the new relationship was established through California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 129 (ACR 129), authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney and formally chaptered on June 10, 2026.
The development creates a formal framework for cooperation between Lagos State and California in areas of mutual interest.
California’s official Senate Office of International Relations lists Lagos State among its sister-state relationships established in 2026.
The relationship builds on existing people-to-people connections between Lagos, Nigeria and California, particularly through Nigerians and Nigerian-Americans living and working in the US state.
Speaking after the Sacramento event, Sanwo-Olu said the relationship reflected the longstanding connections between the people of Lagos and California.
The governor noted that many Nigerians in California have built careers and businesses there while maintaining connections with Nigeria.
He said these links have helped create an existing relationship between the two communities beyond government-to-government engagement.
Sanwo-Olu also pointed to similarities between Lagos and California in business, technology, entertainment, creativity and innovation.
He noted that both jurisdictions also have significant coastal connections.
According to the governor, these similarities could provide areas for knowledge-sharing and future collaboration.
The formal relationship is expected to provide opportunities for exchanges and cooperation across several sectors.
The California Assembly described ACR 129 as establishing a sister-state relationship intended to promote collaboration across strategic areas.
The partnership has been linked to areas including technology, innovation, education, trade, economic development, transportation, urban development, arts and culture.
The creative economy is also an area where the two regions have identified potential for stronger connections.
California Assemblymember Matt Haney, who authored the resolution, said the relationship could create opportunities for collaboration in technology, clean energy, education, trade, health and the creative economy.
The resolution also recognises the cultural and economic connections between Lagos and California.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the contributions of Nigerians living in California during the Sacramento celebration.
Among those he acknowledged were California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin and former NBA player Festus Ezeli.
The governor said the achievements of Nigerians in California demonstrate the importance of people in strengthening relations between both jurisdictions.
He described the new relationship as an opportunity to build on those existing connections.
Sanwo-Olu also expressed appreciation to Assemblymembers Matt Haney and Isaac Bryan for their role in advancing the resolution.
He also acknowledged Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty and others who contributed to the establishment of the relationship.
The formalisation of the partnership follows legislative action in California earlier in 2026.
The California Assembly adopted ACR 129 in April before the measure completed the legislative process and was chaptered in June.
The California State Legislature’s official sister-state listing now includes Lagos State alongside other international regional partnerships.
Sister-state relationships are generally designed to encourage exchanges and cooperation between participating regions.
California’s Senate Office of International Relations says such relationships can support diplomatic, economic, educational and cultural exchanges.
For Lagos, the new relationship provides an additional platform for engagement with one of the major economic and technology centres in the United States.
It also creates a formal channel for strengthening existing links involving the Nigerian diaspora in California.
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos would seek to translate the relationship into opportunities for its people.
He said the state looked forward to building a stronger bridge between Lagos and California.
The development comes as Lagos continues to expand its international partnerships and engagement with cities, states and institutions outside Nigeria.
The sister-state relationship provides a framework through which both sides can explore areas of shared interest.
For businesses, professionals, students, creatives and innovators, the relationship could provide opportunities for future exchanges, subject to specific programmes and agreements developed by the two sides.
The Nigerian community in California also remains an important link in the relationship.
The Sacramento celebration brought together government representatives and members of the diaspora, reflecting the people-to-people dimension of the partnership.
As implementation develops, attention is expected to focus on converting the formal relationship into practical cooperation.
This could include institutional exchanges, economic engagement, educational partnerships and collaboration in technology and creative industries.
For Lagos, the relationship marks a new chapter in its engagement with California.
For California, Lagos becomes part of its growing network of international sister-state relationships.
The Sacramento event therefore served as a public celebration of a relationship that had already received formal legislative approval.
Sanwo-Olu’s remarks focused on the potential for both regions to learn from each other while building new opportunities for their respective communities.
The partnership ultimately provides a formal structure for Lagos and California to deepen cooperation while building on their existing economic, cultural and people-to-people connections.
