In a landmark visit aimed at deepening economic and cultural ties between the United Kingdom and Africa, London Mayor Sadiq Khan arrived in Lagos this week to engage with Nigeria’s vibrant creative and tech sectors. The visit marks the first stop in a five-day trade mission across the continent.
With Lagos hailed as Africa’s tech capital and one of the fastest-growing innovation hubs globally, Mayor Khan is leading a delegation of more than 25 British companies focused on sustainability, technology, and creative industries.
“This is the fastest-growing tech cluster in the world,” Khan said during an event attended by artists, designers, and startup founders. “London is the tech capital of Europe, Lagos is the tech capital of Africa. We are here not as patrons, but as partners, so both our great cities can flourish and thrive.”
Building Bridges Between Two Innovation Giants
The Mayor’s visit emphasizes the growing recognition of Lagos as a global force in fashion, film, music, and fintech. The event gathered key figures from both countries who are shaping the future of technology and creativity on the continent.
Nigeria’s booming startup scene, often dubbed “Silicon Lagoon”, is being driven by a dynamic, youthful population and increasing international investment in digital finance, artificial intelligence, and storytelling.
“There’s a lot we must learn from London,” said Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founding Partner at Future Africa. “From infrastructure and global talent to livability and regulation, especially around ethical AI, this collaboration is essential.”
Olatunbosun Alake, Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, welcomed the partnership with humor and optimism:
“We are here to build a bridge stronger than broadband in Victoria Island and faster than the Elizabeth Line,” he said, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.
Africa Rising on the Global Tech Map
Mayor Khan’s mission aims not only to foster investment opportunities but also to promote mutual learning in areas such as sustainable innovation, ethical tech development, and cultural entrepreneurship.
The visit comes at a time when African tech startups are attracting unprecedented global interest. With its high mobile penetration, digital-savvy youth, and growing creative exports, Nigeria is emerging as a key player in the global digital economy.
Lagos, in particular, has become a launchpad for companies scaling across the continent, and now, increasingly, across the globe.
A Shared Digital Future
Khan’s African tour continues with stops in Accra, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, with each destination chosen for its strategic role in shaping Africa’s innovation landscape.
This historic outreach signals a new chapter in UK-Africa relations, one rooted not just in aid or trade, but in equitable partnerships and shared aspirations for growth in the digital age.
“We’re not just here to talk,” Khan emphasized. “We’re here to listen, collaborate, and co-create a future where our cities are connected by opportunity, not just geography.”
As the Lagos leg of the tour wraps up, all eyes turn to what long-term partnerships and projects will emerge from this momentum, ones that could redefine the future of tech diplomacy between Africa and the UK.
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