King Charles to Welcome Nigerian President for Historic State Visit
President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu have accepted an invitation to attend the visit at Windsor Castle from March 18 to 19. State visits are a form of soft-power diplomacy, combining ceremonial pageantry with efforts to strengthen ties with key international partners.
The last Nigerian state visit to the UK occurred in 1989, when military ruler Gen Ibrahim Babangida traveled to meet the late Queen Elizabeth II on a four-day trip.
Although this will be Tinubu’s first formal state visit, he has met the King previously since taking office after Nigeria’s disputed 2023 election. In September 2024, Tinubu and his wife were received at Buckingham Palace, and they also held a bilateral meeting with Charles during the COP28 summit in Dubai.
A state visit adds ceremonial elements to underscore the significance of the occasion, highlighting the importance the UK places on its relationship with Nigeria.
The trip comes amid improving diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations, with trade exceeding £8 billion ($9.6 billion) in the year to October, making Nigeria one of the UK’s most important African partners. In 2024, both countries signed a new trade and investment partnership to expand business opportunities.
The agenda for the March visit has not been disclosed. State visits typically feature carriage processions, state banquets, and political meetings between the visiting leaders and the host country.
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