The London Mayor is on his first-ever mayoral trade mission to Africa, visiting Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa to strengthen economic and cultural ties with the capital.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has made his first official visit to Africa since assuming office, starting with Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria.

The London Mayor is on his first-ever mayoral trade mission to Africa, visiting Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa to strengthen economic and cultural ties with the capital.

Khan held a strategic meeting in Lagos with key stakeholders from Nigeria’s thriving tech industry as part of a broader effort to strengthen economic and cultural partnerships between London and Africa’s largest economy.

In collaboration with London & Partners—the UK capital’s official promotional agency—the Mayor emphasised London’s commitment to supporting Nigerian tech businesses looking to expand and invest in the United Kingdom.

"Culture is the beating heart of our great city. It shapes how London is seen around the world, generates over £63bn a year and supports 1 in 5 jobs in the capital,” he wrote on his official X handle on Tuesday.

"Today, I'm in Lagos - Africa’s cultural capital - to strengthen our cultural ties and celebrate shared successes."

The visit highlights the growing importance of cross-border collaboration in innovation, digital economy, and creative industries.

"Great morning with @LondonPartners and leaders from Nigeria’s tech sector. Lagos is the fastest growing tech ecosystem globally: London is the number one tech hub in Europe,” he also said.

"Together, we discussed how we can support Nigerian tech businesses to invest in London."

The Mayor's visit comes amid increasing international recognition of Nigeria’s booming tech scene, often dubbed “Silicon Lagoon,” driven by its youthful population, digital talent pool, and expanding fintech landscape.

With over 60% of Nigeria’s population under 25, Lagos is fast becoming a launchpad for African innovation.

During the engagement, tech founders, venture capitalists, and industry leaders discussed opportunities for knowledge exchange, access to markets, and investment pipelines between London and Lagos.

The Mayor expressed confidence that a deeper UK-Nigeria tech partnership would generate sustainable economic opportunities and jobs across both regions.

While in Lagos, the Mayor also spotlighted the role of culture in strengthening global relations, describing it as “the beating heart of our great city.”

"We’ll work to deepen the capital’s strong ties with Africa, and celebrate our shared heritage, history and culture with the African continent - as we build a better and fairer London for everyone,” the Mayor said.

Referring to Lagos as “Africa’s cultural capital,” he reiterated London’s desire to celebrate its shared heritage, history, and diversity with the African continent. From Nollywood and Afrobeats to fashion, literature, and art, Nigeria's cultural exports are helping reshape global narratives about Africa.