The Lagos State Government and the City of London have launched a landmark partnership aimed at driving technological innovation and deeper collaboration between the two global cities.

The initiative was announced during the London and Partners Tech Summit held in Lagos on Tuesday—the first official London trade mission to Nigeria. The event, themed “Bridging Borders: How London and Lagos Can Shape the Future of Global Technology,” attracted business leaders, policymakers, and innovators eager to strengthen ties between two of the world’s most dynamic tech hubs.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, leading the delegation, praised Lagos as Africa’s tech capital, drawing a direct comparison to London’s status in Europe.

“London is Europe’s tech capital, Lagos is Africa’s. Most African unicorns are in Lagos, while London has over 120 unicorns,” Khan said.

He described the partnership as an opportunity to harness the unique strengths of both cities, supporting digital transformation and laying the foundation for shared technological leadership on the global stage.

Khan also pointed to London’s sizable African diaspora—more than 150,000 people of Nigerian descent—as a powerful bridge for trade, innovation, and cultural exchange.

“Our African diaspora is a secret weapon,” he said, encouraging Nigerian entrepreneurs to see London as a welcoming hub for business expansion.

The summit underscored the growing interest in fostering two-way investment, knowledge sharing, and opportunities for startups and scale-ups in both cities.

Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Olatubosun Alake, echoed the vision of a robust “London-Lagos innovation corridor.” He emphasised that while Lagos contends with challenges such as erratic power supply and traffic congestion, it remains a thriving centre of creativity and entrepreneurship.

“We have to build connections that are stronger than broadband,” Alake said.

“London’s financial power meeting Lagos’s dynamic innovation landscape is not just about profit—it’s about shaping the future.”

Gov Babajide Sanw-Olu of Lagos State and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

He highlighted how Nigerian startups are building global solutions informed by local realities, citing Moneypoint as an example of a fintech company that successfully tested new models in Nigeria’s challenging but feedback-rich market.

Alake noted the state’s investments in over 4,000km of fibre optic infrastructure and the launch of tech hubs in underserved areas, with a focus on improving STEM education for girls.

“We’re inviting partners to co-invest, co-build, and co-lead with visionary governments,” he said, warning that regulatory delays risk letting the next unicorn emerge elsewhere in Africa.

“True bridges emerge when Nigerian spirit meets London structure, British capital fuels Nigerian creativity, and everyone stops waiting for permission.”

Howard Dawber, London’s Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, described the mission as a major step forward for trade and innovation.

“It supports London firms expanding into Nigeria and positions London as a launchpad for African business growth,” he said.

Future Africa Founding Partner Iyinoluwa Aboyeji also spoke at the summit, describing Lagos as a global melting pot of talent and creativity, much like London, and expressing optimism that the visit would spark a long-term transatlantic innovation partnership.

British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, said the Mayor’s visit demonstrated the UK’s commitment to deepening ties with Nigeria, noting that the trade partnership is opening new opportunities for inclusive economic growth.

As both cities look ahead, the newly launched partnership aims to advance areas such as digital finance, ethical data use, and innovation-driven development—anchoring a North-South “tech highway” between Lagos and London.