Eko Expo Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos – Eko Atlantic, the new city for Lagos, was the lead sponsor of The Economist Magazine’s ‘Future Cities’ conference at the Eko Expo Centre in Lagos.The two-day summit focussed on the global debate revolving around the management of Africa’s urban transformation and gathered top-level policymakers, including the leaders of Lagos State, Johannesburg, Dar es Salaam, Harare and Cape Town.
The event also attracted leading authorities in urban planning, construction, transport, energy, architecture and sustainability.
Key stakeholders in leading, designing, building and managing Africa’s most successful cities took part in the debates, including David Frame, the Managing Director of South Energyx Nigeria Limited, the developers and city planners of Eko Atlantic.
Eko Atlantic is one of Africa’s most inspired developments, reclaiming land from the Atlantic Ocean to build a new city for 250,000 people. More than three million square metres of land has already been recovered and construction of the first roads and residential towers has begun.
‘The progress we have made further underlines our commitment to the development of Lagos State and the Nigerian economy on the one hand and the growth of Africa on the other,’ said David Frame. ‘We are indeed very delighted to be a part of the ongoing effort that is helping to open up Africa to more global investors.’
The city will eventually spread across ten square kilometres of land recovered from the sea and 150,000 people will find jobs in Eko Atlantic.
The development is privately funded and supported by Nigerian banks in association with international investors.
More than 100 leaders from government, industry, technology and the world of finance attended a Gala Dinner hosted by the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babatunde Fashola, which was sponsored by Eko Atlantic.
Conference delegates were also given a guided tour of the Eko Atlantic development area off Victoria Island where The Great Wall of Lagos, a sea revetment that will protect the new city, is already 3.2 kilometres long.
‘Eko Atlantic is here to stay,’ said David Frame. ‘The city will be of 21st century design, efficiently managed and sustainable.’
