Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, embarked on a historic five-day African trade mission, commencing in Lagos, Nigeria, with a landmark tech event at the John Randle Centre on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. This visit solidified a pioneering partnership between the Lagos State Government and the City of London, aimed at boosting technological innovation and strengthening collaboration between these two global cities.

The summit, themed “Bridging Borders: How London and Lagos Can Shape the Future of Global Technology,” underscored a shared vision to leverage each city’s unique strengths to drive digital transformation and shape the future of global technology, particularly within the rapidly expanding tech and creative industries. The Mayor's delegation included over two dozen British companies specializing in sustainability and technology, emphasizing a partnership approach rather than patronage.

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Sadiq Khan praised Lagos as a remarkable city, asserting its status as the tech capital of Africa, much like London holds the title of Europe's tech capital. He highlighted that the vast majority of Africa’s unicorns are based in Lagos, while London boasts over 120 unicorns. A significant aspect of this collaboration, according to Khan, is London's substantial African diaspora, notably over 150,000 individuals of Nigerian origin, which he described as a “secret weapon” for fostering deeper ties between London and African nations. He actively encouraged Nigerian businesses and talent to utilize these connections and consider London as a familiar and welcoming hub for expansion.

Olatubosun Alake, the Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, passionately advocated for the establishment of a robust London-Lagos innovation corridor. He characterized both cities as capitals of creativity, commerce, and significant confluence, acknowledging Lagos’s unique ability to foster raw innovation, often spurred by everyday challenges such as frequent power outages and heavy traffic. Alake articulated a vision for a partnership where London, a global financial hub, converges with Lagos, Africa’s leading technology heart, emphasizing the need to build connections.