Lagos is posited as the fastest-growing tech cluster in the world and the tech capital of Africa. The city’s appeal includes its vibrant culture, food, people, and exchange of ideas. Recently, the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, on his first visit to Nigeria while leading a trade delegation in Africa, called its largest city, Lagos, the “tech capital of Africa”.

The comment emphasises optimism, a welcoming investment climate, and opportunities for UK-Lagos partnerships, especially in tech sectors.

More so, it frames Lagos as not just a regional but a global player, drawing parallels to London as Europe’s tech hub. The Mayor had met with local innovators and acknowledged the past imbalances in UK-Nigeria relations, but asserts a new spirit of partnership and mutual growth.

He was highly positive, highlighting opportunities without minimizing challenges. He also focused on cultural affinity, optimism, and the soft power of connectivity alongside hard business factors.

Lagos, Tech Capital of Africa — Overstating Lagos’ Superiority

The comment by Mayor Khan highlights many genuine strengths of Lagos and positions it as Africa’s premier tech hub. However, a more balanced perspective reveals valid reasons why investors might prioritize alternative cities or regions in Africa—or at least approach Lagos with healthy skepticism.

Other African cities compete strongly. Nairobi (Kenya) is often called “Silicon Savannah,” home to pioneering successes like M-Pesa and a robust ecosystem for fintech, agri-tech, and health-tech. It has strong US, European, and pan-African investor ties.

Cape Town and Johannesburg (South Africa) offer more stable infrastructure, deeper financial markets, and are magnets for global accelerators and corporates.

Cairo (Egypt) and Casablanca (Morocco) are now surging in startups, venture funding, and regional influence, particularly for North African and Arab markets.

In short, Lagos is not yet declared the only “tech capital” of Africa, and its dominant reputation can be challenged. Lagos absolutely offers size, energy, and global relevance—but these assets come with significant challenges.

Its position as “Africa’s tech capital” is not unchallenged, and for many investors—especially those prioritizing stability, infrastructure, or social impact—other African cities may be better aligned with their risk tolerance and strategic goals. No single African city can, or should, monopolize the continent’s tech narrative.

Evolving Partnership Between the UK and Nigeria

The Mayor declared a UK-Nigeria tech and culture alliance. However, the partnership approach between the UK and Nigeria is still evolving. Despite claims of equal partnership, concerns remain about “parachute investment”—foreign capital that extracts more than it develops—or that culture and local priorities are overridden by international interests.

Some Nigerian entrepreneurs have criticized a lack of true knowledge transfer or ecosystem-building from foreign investors.