Founder engagement, investor connections and policy dialogue highlight the UK’s commitment to helping African businesses scale, attract investment and compete globally.
The UK has concluded a week of high-level engagement with founders, investors, policymakers and business leaders at Moonshot by TechCabal 2026, Africa’s flagship technology and innovation gathering, held in Lagos under the theme “Courage & Conviction: Building for a New World.”
At Moonshot 2026, the UK reinforced its commitment to supporting ambitious Nigerian and African businesses to grow, attract investment, build strategic partnerships and compete globally. Through founder showcases, investor matchmaking, policy dialogue and ecosystem engagements, the UK demonstrated its role as a practical partner for innovation-led growth across Nigeria and the continent.
Ahead of the conference, the UK supported the TECA Demo and Pitch Days, delivered by BFA Global through UK-funded FSD Africa, where Nigerian innovators showcased solutions to real-world challenges and high-potential founders pitched investment-ready businesses to investors and ecosystem leaders.
Through the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, the UK also supported the Magna Investor Connection Drive, which brought together 25 vetted founders and 15 active investors through curated, pre-matched meetings designed to unlock investment, growth and new partnerships.
A highlight of the UK’s participation was the engagement of His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa, Alastair Long, alongside other UK representatives, who joined founders, investors and ecosystem leaders at Moonshot to explore the opportunities shaping Africa’s next generation of globally competitive businesses.
Discussions focused on scaling innovation, attracting investment, expanding into international markets, and building globally competitive businesses across Africa.
Through these engagements, the UK helped advance conversations on digital trade, access to finance, climate resilience and innovation-led growth, while fostering the partnerships, investment connections and enabling conditions needed for ambitious businesses to scale, compete globally and drive sustainable economic growth.
Alongside Moonshot, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, convened founders, investors and ecosystem leaders at a reception ahead of the African Prosperity Summit 2026, hosted by the Venture Platform, to discuss how innovation, investment and stronger partnerships can accelerate economic growth across Africa.
Throughout the week, the UK highlighted opportunities available to high-growth businesses through its network of investors, institutions and programmes, including the Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP), which supports ambitious international companies seeking to establish a UK headquarters or research and development presence as part of their global growth journey.
Country Director of UK-Nigeria Technology Hub at the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, Oyinkan Akinola-Bello, said:
“Nigeria is home to some of Africa’s most innovative and ambitious entrepreneurs. Through our partnerships with founders, investors, policymakers and ecosystem builders, we are helping create the conditions businesses need to grow, attract investment and access international opportunities.
“The UK is proud to be a long-term partner for innovation and enterprise. We want to see more Nigerian businesses scaling successfully, building global connections and driving sustainable economic growth. The real measure of success will be the partnerships, investments and opportunities that emerge long after this week has ended.”
The UK’s engagement at Moonshot 2026 forms part of its broader commitment to strengthening UK-Nigeria commercial ties, supporting entrepreneurship and connecting ambitious African businesses to the investment, expertise and international partnerships needed to drive sustainable growth, create jobs and deliver shared prosperity.
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