London and Lagos Forge Global Tech Alliance to Drive Innovation and Investment
In a landmark move to strengthen technological innovation and cross-border collaboration, the Lagos State Government and the City of London have officially partnered to create a global tech alliance. The announcement was made during a tech summit hosted by London & Partners in Lagos, marking the first-ever London trade mission to Nigeria. The event, themed “Bridging Borders: How London and Lagos Can Shape the Future of Global Technology,” highlighted the two cities’ shared ambition to leverage their distinct strengths and drive global digital transformation.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, praised Lagos as Africa’s tech capital, likening it to London’s dominance in Europe. He cited Lagos’s role in nurturing African unicorns and emphasized London’s thriving Nigerian diaspora—over 150,000 strong—as a crucial bridge for tech expansion. Khan encouraged Nigerian entrepreneurs and innovators to take advantage of these ties and explore London as a welcoming, growth-oriented destination.
Olatubosun Alake, Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, proposed a formal London-Lagos innovation corridor. He lauded both cities as epicenters of creativity and enterprise, noting that Lagos’s challenges often inspire unique technological solutions. Alake stressed that this partnership isn’t just about funding but about building the global future of tech—where London’s financial prowess meets Lagos’s creative firepower.
Key initiatives under this alliance include advancing digital finance, promoting responsible data use, and connecting the Global North and South through a technology highway. Alake pointed to existing UK-Nigeria partnerships, such as Moniepoint’s collaboration with UK startups, as successful models. He also highlighted local efforts like Lagos’s deployment of 4,000 km of fiber optic cable, tech hubs in underserved communities, and STEM education, especially for girls.
Top British officials including Howard Dawber and Jonny Baxter echoed support for this alliance. They emphasized the economic and cultural importance of the partnership and its role in promoting inclusive growth. Nigerian entrepreneur Iyinoluwa Aboyeji expressed hope that the summit would ignite a long-lasting, transatlantic tech partnership. The message from all leaders was clear: the time to collaborate is now—delays could mean missing out on the next global tech revolution.
Source: The sun