Iru Business Network has debuted in Lagos to drive commerce, community development, and economic growth, fostering collaboration and innovation between the public and private sectors.
The royal father, Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, announced the new chapter in the socioeconomic evolution of Iruland through the launch of the Iru Business Network and the maiden edition of the Oniru Business & Cultural Day.
The initiative, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, represents a deliberate move to create a formal, organised, and trusted platform for ongoing engagement between cultural institutions, private sector actors, government agencies, and the wider community residing in the Iru Kingdom.
Lawal explained that the initiative did not emerge in isolation, saying it is a response to growing and consistent demand from stakeholders across Iruland for a credible structure through which conversations can progress into tangible and measurable action.
“The Iru Business Network is designed to build bridges between culture, commerce, and community development. It provides a trusted platform where traditional institutions, the private sector, and the government can engage transparently and constructively,” he said at the business conference.
He noted that the aim of the network and cultural day is to build an architecture that enables investors to engage policymakers and communities to understand and participate in the development process.
“This is particularly important in a kingdom such as ours—one that hosts thriving sectors including real estate, hospitality, creative industries, professional services, retail commerce, and international enterprise.”
“Without structured engagement, such diversity can create fragmentation. With structured engagement, it becomes a platform for shared prosperity.”
He stressed that cultural diplomacy gives dignity to these engagements, noting that it strengthens relationships and ensures that development is not only efficient but also humane.
According to him, the vision positions the Palace as a steady anchor in the midst of rapid urban, commercial, and demographic transformation in Iruland, ensuring that as development progresses, it remains guided by shared values, mutual respect, and a strong sense of community.
At the heart of this new architecture of engagement lies the Oniru Business & Cultural Day, a one-day flagship event that will serve as a major convergence point for the Iru Kingdom’s dynamic and diverse economic and cultural ecosystem.
Speaking also, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, commissioner for the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, said the Oniru Business and Cultural Day is not merely an event but a thoughtful, intentional intervention in how the relationship between culture and commerce is organised in Lagos.
“It recognises that the Palace stands as a centre of legitimacy, continuity, and trust, and that culture itself is not only a heritage to be celebrated but also a powerful convening platform through which dialogue, partnerships, and economic opportunity can be meaningfully pursued,” she said.
The commissioner stated that the Oniru Business and Cultural Day is a strategic response to the need for structure and partnership, adding that it provides a platform where indigenous and expatriate businesses can showcase their products and services, tell their stories, and connect with clients, investors, and collaborators.
“It brings government MDAs, financial institutions, development partners, and the private sector together for dialogue that is not abstract, but directed toward solutions for real issues such as access to finance, compliance frameworks, infrastructure, tourism development, local content, digital adoption, and youth employment.
“It provides a cultural anchor—reminding us that development thrives best in environments where people feel respected, included, and seen,” she said.
