The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is in Lagos on a historic visit aimed at boosting economic, technological, and cultural cooperation between London and Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Khan, who arrived on Monday, July 14, as part of a five-day African trade mission, is the first Mayor of London to lead such an initiative to the continent.
According to a press release from the Mayor’s office, his Lagos stop is focused on tapping into the city’s booming tech and creative industries, sectors that continue to position Lagos as a rising global player.
At a major tech event hosted on Tuesday, July 15, by London & Partners, Khan urged Nigerian startups to scale internationally through London.
“Lagos is the world’s top emerging tech hub,” said Orla Browne, Head of Insights at Dealroom. “Its ecosystem has grown 11-fold since 2017 to $15B and produced unicorns like Flutterwave and OPay.”
The Mayor also hosted Lagos Canvas, a cultural event co-organised by EbonyLife Group, bringing together artists, filmmakers, and fashion creatives.
The gathering featured Afro-soul music, fashion showcases, and short films from Nollywood stars like Jade Osiberu and Kayode Kasum.
“London and Lagos are two of the most culturally dynamic cities in the world,” Khan said at the event.
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“By working together to showcase our creativity, develop new partnerships and learn from each other, we can drive our economies forward, unite our communities and inspire young people.”
EbonyLife CEO Mo Abudu called the partnership “a powerful driver of cultural and economic exchange,” adding that Lagos Canvas would be replicated in London later this year with support from the Lagos State Government.
Accompanied by 27 London-based companies exploring opportunities in Africa, Khan’s delegation includes tech firms like Abound, already partnered with African fintech unicorn LemFi.
“We’re excited to continue growing our presence in what is becoming such an important fintech hub,” said Michelle He, Co-Founder of Abound.
The visit also comes as Nigeria’s GTCO recently became the first bank from the country to list all its shares directly on the London Stock Exchange, a development hailed by UK officials as proof of growing financial ties.
British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, said Khan’s visit reflects a deepening UK–Nigeria partnership. “From trade to fintech and fashion, our collaboration is driving innovation and growth,” he said.
With Nigeria ranked the ninth most common country of birth for Londoners and Lagos named Africa’s top city for creative performance, Khan’s visit reflects a strategic move to deepen bilateral ties across key industries.
The Mayor continues his African tour in Accra and South Africa later this week.