Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, recorded a notable diplomatic and economic milestone on Monday with the formal inauguration of leading Nigerian businessman and infrastructure developer, Biodun Otunola, as honorary consul of Mexico in Lagos.
The appointment establishes the first honorary consulate of Mexico in Lagos State and signals renewed momentum in bilateral relations between the Latin American economy and Africa’s largest market.
The inauguration ceremony attracted members of the diplomatic community, senior government officials and leaders from Nigeria’s private sector. Among dignitaries present were Alfredo Miranda, Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, who was represented by Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the secretary to the state government.
Speaking during the ceremony, Miranda described the appointment as a significant step in strengthening diplomatic and economic engagement between Mexico and Nigeria. According to him, the establishment of a consular presence in Lagos reflects both countries’ commitment to deepening cooperation across commerce, culture and people-to-people exchange.
“I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Mr Biodun Otunola on his appointment as the Honorary Consul of Mexico in Lagos. The role of an honorary consul requires dedication, vision and a genuine commitment to strengthening relations between nations,” Miranda said.
He noted that Otunola’s professional track record and understanding of Nigeria’s economic environment position him well to help advance Mexico–Nigeria relations and foster stronger institutional collaboration.
“Mr Otunola’s professional experience, leadership and deep understanding of the local environment will undoubtedly contribute to advancing Mexico–Nigeria relations and building new bridges of cooperation between our peoples. I am confident that under his guidance, this consulate will become a dynamic point of connection between Mexico and Lagos, fostering dialogue, economic exchange and mutual understanding,” Miranda added.
In his acceptance remarks, Otunola said the appointment presents a unique opportunity to strengthen economic partnerships between Nigeria and Mexico, particularly through Lagos, which serves as the country’s commercial and industrial hub.
“I am deeply honoured by the confidence that Mexico has placed in me to serve as Honorary Consul in Lagos. I thank the Government of Mexico for finding me worthy of the character, integrity, capacity and competence required for this responsibility,” he said.
Otunola highlighted the scale of Mexico’s economy and the potential for Nigeria to leverage stronger cooperation with the North American manufacturing powerhouse.
“Mexico is a 1.8 trillion-dollar economy and ranks among the top twelve economies in the world. This presents significant opportunities that Nigeria can leverage across sectors such as power, tourism and manufacturing,” he noted.
He added that the consulate would serve as a platform to facilitate partnerships between businesses in both countries, encourage investment flows and create new opportunities for employment and economic growth.
“I want to assure the business community that Lagos is open for business as we usher in a new chapter in the Lagos–Mexico relationship. Through stronger collaboration, we aim to stimulate investment, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to economic growth,” Otunola said.
He expressed optimism that measurable progress in trade and cooperation would emerge within the next decade.
“I am confident that in the next five to ten years, we will witness significant milestones in the partnership between our two economies,” he added.
Delivering the Lagos State Government’s goodwill message on behalf of Governor Sanwo-Olu, Salu-Hundeyin described the inauguration as an important moment in the evolving relationship between Nigeria and Mexico.
According to the governor’s message, Lagos has increasingly positioned itself as one of Africa’s most dynamic economic centres, supported by strong entrepreneurship, a large consumer market and a young population.
“Today marks an important milestone in the growing relationship between the United Mexican States and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly Lagos State.
“Lagos stands today as one of Africa’s most dynamic economic, social and cultural centres — a city powered by innovation, enterprise and a youthful population that continues to redefine opportunity across the continent,” the governor stated.
He added that the establishment of the honorary consulate would deepen diplomatic ties while also opening new channels for economic collaboration.
“I am confident that today’s inauguration will serve as an important bridge, strengthening diplomacy, expanding economic opportunity and deepening the friendship between our two nations,” the statement said.
Otunola brings extensive experience in engineering, infrastructure development and international policy engagement to his new diplomatic role.
He is the founding managing director of Planet Projects Limited, a Lagos-based engineering and transport infrastructure firm that has delivered several major projects across Nigeria.
A civil engineering graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Otunola also holds a master’s degree from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Over the course of his career, he has overseen major transport and urban mobility projects, most notably the Oshodi Transport Interchange, widely regarded as the largest bus terminal complex in Africa.
Beyond his corporate role, Otunola is a policy affiliate at the International Growth Centre at the University of Oxford and has completed executive programmes at Wharton Business School.
Under his leadership, Planet Projects Limited received international recognition from the International Association of Public Transport for excellence in integrated mobility solutions in Africa.
Nigeria and Mexico share similarities as emerging markets with strong manufacturing potential, expanding consumer markets and growing urban populations. However, bilateral trade between the two countries remains relatively modest compared with their economic size.
The new consulate is expected to play a facilitating role in bridging that gap by promoting trade missions, supporting business delegations and encouraging collaboration between companies and government institutions.
