President Bola Tinubu was welcomed ceremonially by King Charles III at Windsor Castle on Wednesday in the first state visit by the leader of Africa’s most populous nation in nearly four decades.
Tinubu has made several less formal visits to Britain during his tenure, and the two countries continue to be key economic, aid, and defense allies. London is also home to a large Nigerian diaspora.
King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted the president and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in Windsor, west of London, on a sunny afternoon as artillery fired salutes.
The Nigerian president and his wife had earlier met with the heir to the throne, Prince William, and his wife, Catherine, at a Windsor hotel.
The company then drove in carriages to the famous Windsor Castle, escorted by cavalry dressed in red and gold.
At the castle’s entryway, Charles and Tinubu viewed a guard of honor dressed in traditional bearskin headgear.
Later in the afternoon, the king and queen planned to present the president and first lady pieces from the Royal Collection that reflected Nigeria’s links to Britain, which was the colonial power in charge until 1960.
These include a Yoruba-beaded throne given to Queen Elizabeth II on an official visit in 1965.
They were also to see images of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a Yoruba lady who became Queen Victoria’s protégée after being abducted as a slave and transported to Britain by a naval captain.
Queen Victoria became her daughter’s godmother and paid for her education.
In the evening, Charles and Tinubu were scheduled to deliver remarks at a spectacular state banquet.
According to Nigeria’s presidency, the visit marked a “renewed chapter” and indicated a shared commitment to “advancing trade and strengthening diplomatic ties.”
London described the visit as “historic,” announcing that Nigerian companies, particularly banks, are expanding operations and generating hundreds of jobs in Britain, bolstering the country’s position as a worldwide hub for African commerce.
Issues likely to be discussed include massive Nigerian port upgrades financed by Britain, as well as trade, which reached £8.1 billion ($11 billion) in the fiscal year ending September 2025, a 11.4% rise year on year.
According to the official program, Tinubu will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and members of the Nigerian community overseas on Thursday.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, a pastor, is scheduled to preach on Thursday at London’s Lambeth Palace, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and meet with Church of England representatives.
The last Nigerian state visit to the UK occurred in 1989, while Tinubu was welcomed by Charles in September 2024.
Prior to the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022, Charles visited Nigeria four times as Prince of Wales.
