Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi met with the UK royals during an official state visit.
Tinubu made his first state visit to Windsor Castle in nearly four decades, receiving a warm welcome from King Charles III. More than 1,000 soldiers were out in force on Wednesday for the diplomatic show of soft power by the royal family.
The engagements were part of the first day of the President’s two-day state visit to the UK.
King Charles III hosted a banquet in honour of Nigeria’s leader.Tinubu and his wife joined the monarch and Queen Camilla for a lively reception at historic Windsor Castle. They mingled with Nigerian officials, top bankers, business leaders, sports stars, and cultural icons of Nigerian descent.
On Sunday, palace staff began setting up the table and continued to do so until shortly before the dinner started. The magnificent flower arrangements made with blooms from Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Windsor’s Savill Garden were among the final touches.
Before the dinner began, King Charles and President Tinubu delivered speeches to the 160 guests, who dined on a three-course meal including turbot. The King then made his toast.
He said: “We in the United Kingdom are blessed that so many people of Nigerian heritage, having chosen Britain as their home, are now at the heart of British life through excelling at the highest levels of business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature and the arts, and public service.
The King added: “Only last week, I was delighted to host a rather lively group of them for a ‘Jollof and Tea’ Party at St. James’s Palace. I was firmly assured that Jollof was only the best: Nigerian, of course.”
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Guests at the banquet savored a special non-alcoholic cocktail blending zobo, English rose soda, and homemade hibiscus-ginger syrup.. It is based on a traditional Nigerian cocktail called the Chapman.
This marked the first state visit by a Muslim head of state during Ramadan since 1928. Guests like Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu broke their Iftar with a special prayer inside a Windsor Castle room—for the very first time.
Other notable guests at tonight’s banquet include Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage, poet Sir Ben Okri, and poet, Paralympian, and television presenter Ade Adepitan.
Yinka Shonibare, the designer of Queen Elizabeth II’s national memorial in London’s St James’s Park, is also present at the banquet.
With trade between the two countries at an all-time high, Charles is using his two-day visit to highlight the countries’ strong cultural and commercial ties.
Tinubu has made several less formal visits to the United Kingdom during his tenure, and the two countries continue to be major trading, aid, and defence partners. London also has a large Nigerian diaspora of approximately 300,000 people.
Nigeria’s presidency stated that the visit marked a “new chapter” and reflected a shared commitment to “advancing trade and strengthening diplomatic ties.”
London described the visit as “historic,” announcing that Nigerian companies, including banks, are expanding operations and creating hundreds of jobs in the UK, strengthening the country’s position as a global hub for African business.
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