Lagos: The Flying Geese of the South-West, by Otunba Segun Showunmi

There is a concept in economic development known as the Flying Geese Model. It explains how regions develop when a leading economy creates momentum that others intentionally align with and benefit from. The lead goose breaks the resistance. The others fly in formation, conserving energy, increasing efficiency, and ultimately travelling farther together than any one could alone.

I know this concept by heart.

It is one of the reasons I have always believed that if there is any state that represents the lead goose in Nigeria’s South-West, it is Lagos.

Lagos is not merely another state in the federation. It is an economic engine. It is where capital gathers, where innovation scales, where industries find markets, and where opportunities multiply. Its success inevitably affects every state around it.

But understanding the Flying Geese Model requires understanding something deeper. The geese that benefit most are not the ones that simply watch the lead bird fly. They are the ones that consciously align their flight path.

This is why Ogun State occupies such a strategic position in the future of the South-West.

Ogun cannot afford to drift.

Ogun must fly.

More importantly, Ogun must fly according to an intentional flight plan.

Nature has already placed Ogun in a position of advantage. It shares borders with Lagos. It possesses vast land resources. It has access to some of the most important transportation corridors in West Africa. It has industrial potential, agricultural capacity, a growing population, and a rich history of enterprise.

The question is no longer whether opportunities exist.

The question is whether those opportunities are being systematically pursued.

As Lagos expands, Ogun should deliberately position itself as the preferred destination for manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, agro-processing, housing development, and industrial clusters. Every challenge created by Lagos’ success presents an opportunity for Ogun. Every investment looking beyond Lagos should find a prepared and welcoming destination in Ogun.

This does not happen by accident.

It requires planning.

It requires infrastructure.

It requires policy consistency.

It requires a clear understanding that economic development is not a collection of isolated projects but a coordinated strategy.

The future belongs to regions that think together.

The Lagos-Ogun economic corridor is already becoming one of the most significant growth zones on the African continent. The task before leaders, investors, and citizens is to deepen that integration while ensuring that prosperity spreads throughout the South-West.

Oyo must strengthen its industrial and educational advantages. Ekiti must continue to develop its human capital. Osun must maximize its cultural and economic assets. Ondo must unlock its agricultural and natural resource potential.

But Ogun occupies a unique place in this formation.

It is the first beneficiary of Lagos’ expansion and potentially its most important economic partner.

That is why intentionality matters.

The flying geese do not arrive at their destination through chance. They arrive because they understand where they are going and maintain the discipline required to get there.

Lagos is the lead goose of the South-West.

Ogun’s responsibility is not merely to follow.

It is to align, accelerate, and become a powerful force within the formation.

The future of the South-West will not be determined by isolated success stories.

It will be determined by how effectively its states fly together.

And for Ogun, the time for intentional flight is now.

Otunba Segun Showunmi 

The Alternative