Sadiq Khan has become the first Mayor of London to lead a trade mission to Africa, visiting Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa in a bid to strengthen trade, investment and cultural links with the capital.
The five-day visit will include stops in Lagos, Accra, Johannesburg and Cape Town. It’s part of a wider push to deepen London’s connection with the African continent, where trade with the UK was worth £50 billion in 2024.
Speaking ahead of the trip, the Mayor said: “I am delighted to be visiting Africa this week – the first visit of its kind by a Mayor of London – to bang the drum for the capital and further develop the strong ties between our countries.
“Africa has the world’s fastest growing populations, and is seeing major economic growth across many of its economies. Over the next decade there are huge opportunities to deepen partnerships with London. I will be working tirelessly throughout this visit to drive trade and investment across critical sectors including finance, education, health, tech creative and sustainability.
“Londoners of African heritage have played, and continue to play, a huge role in making London the greatest city in the world, and this trip is an opportunity to celebrate our shared heritage, history and culture with the African continent – as we build a better and fairer city for everyone.”
The Mayor is joined by 27 London-based companies through London & Partners, the capital’s business growth agency. These firms are exploring opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, which includes Lagos — recently named the world’s top emerging tech hub.
While in Lagos, Sadiq Khan will attend a flagship tech event and host a reception highlighting the creative industries, aiming to build stronger ties in music, film and the arts. The city’s tech sector has expanded 11-fold since 2017 and produced five “unicorn” companies.
In Ghana, trade with the UK stood at £1.4 billion in 2024. In Accra, the Mayor will address students at the University of Ghana at an event hosted by Imperial College London, which recently opened a permanent base on the continent.
In South Africa, the Mayor will mark Mandela Day in Johannesburg and take part in business meetings and tech events in Cape Town. He will also join the London x Cape Town Tech Summit and participate in activities promoting sport and community development.
Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners, said: “London is one of the best places in the world to build a business. But it doesn’t thrive in isolation. Its strength comes from global connections. Markets like Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya offer real opportunities for growth.”
The mission has also received support from government officials and business leaders across the UK and Africa.
Lord Collins of Highbury, UK Minister for Africa, said: “Sir Sadiq’s visit marks an exciting moment for the UK’s relationship with countries across Africa, and is a strong demonstration of our commitment to deepening our ties with the continent.”
Michelle He, Co-Founder and COO of London-based fintech Abound, said: “We’re excited to take part in this historic trade mission to Africa. We’ve already partnered with one African unicorn, LemFi, and are excited to continue to grow our presence in what is becoming such an important fintech hub.”
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