A groundbreaking partnership is taking shape between London and Lagos, uniting two of the world’s most dynamic cities in a shared vision to lead global innovation. During a landmark visit to Nigeria in July 2025, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and his delegation launched an ambitious initiative to deepen collaboration between the tech ecosystems of London and Lagos.
At the heart of this initiative was the summit titled Bridging Borders: How London and Lagos Can Shape the Future of Global Tech, held at the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History. Organised by London & Partners, the business growth agency for London, the event gathered high-profile government officials, tech entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and creative industry leaders from both cities.
“London is Europe’s tech capital, Lagos is Africa’s. Most African unicorns are in Lagos, while London has over 120 unicorns,” said Mayor Khan, highlighting the synergy between the two cities. His trade mission—the first official London trade mission to Nigeria—underscored a commitment to fostering inclusive growth, unlocking mutual opportunities, and addressing shared challenges in tech, regulation, and cross-border trade.
The London delegation featured more than two dozen British sustainability and tech companies, including startups like Abound, Clowd9, and Tech1M. Their goal: to learn from Nigeria’s mobile-first innovations while exploring new markets for growth.
Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Business, described the initiative as the start of a sustained engagement. “This is the beginning of a new chapter,” he said, pointing to future online seminars, follow-up visits, and cross-continental business exchanges.
The summit spotlighted Lagos’s meteoric rise as Africa’s leading innovation hub. Ranked the top emerging tech ecosystem globally by Dealroom, Lagos recorded 7.9 billion real-time transactions in 2024 alone, making it a prime destination for investors and policymakers.
Discussions explored cross-border regulatory hurdles, banking access issues for Nigerian startups in the UK, and harmonisation of digital standards across Africa. Dawber acknowledged existing challenges and committed to engaging UK regulators to ease financial entry barriers for African startups.
Key Nigerian voices such as Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founding Partner of Future Africa, and Dr. Juliet Ehimuan, Founder of Beyond Limits and former Google West Africa Director, offered insights on the power of ethical AI, tech infrastructure, and scaling innovation.
Panels also featured leading VC figures like Satoshi Shinada (Verod-Kepple), Gbite Oduneye (ODBA), and Kirstin Wilson (Innovate Africa Fund), who discussed the evolving venture landscape from Lagos to London.
One standout sector was fintech. With widespread mobile banking and POS adoption in Nigeria, London delegates praised the country’s advancements, noting that some innovations outpace even the UK.
This strategic partnership extends beyond the summit. With GTCO’s recent listing on the London Stock Exchange and increased inward investments expected within 12-24 months, real outcomes are already emerging. Mayor Khan cited London’s Nigerian diaspora—over 150,000 strong—as a “secret weapon” in building trust and driving engagement.
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) was also cited as a model for enabling real-time cross-border payments, reducing Africa’s $5 billion annual loss due to currency inconvertibility.
The initiative continues with stops in Accra, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, each reinforcing the UK’s growing commitment to Africa’s digital transformation. Lagos, however, remains the centerpiece.
“We are here to build a bridge stronger than broadband in Victoria Island and faster than the Elizabeth Line,” said Lagos Commissioner for Science and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake.
As both cities lean into their comparative advantages—global connectivity for London, and youthful, mobile-driven innovation for Lagos—this partnership may indeed shape the future of global tech for decades to come.
