PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu was on Wednesday given a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle as the Nigerian leader began his state visit to the United Kingdom.
The president and his wife, Remi Tinubu, were treated to a 42-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Before that, Prince William and Princess Catherine met and greeted the Nigerian leader and his wife at the Fairmont Hotel before the short ride to Windsor Castle, where King Charles III hosted them.
There was also an exchange of gifts and a display of items related to Nigeria that are kept in the Royal Collection.
Afterwards, there will be a banquet where Tinubu and King Charles are expected to give speeches. Leaders and celebrities are expected to attend the event.
The president and his wife are expected to lay a wreath of flowers on the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II in St George’s Chapel.
They will also meet with organisations engaged in interfaith dialogue.
On Thursday, Tinubu is expected to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as well as members of the Nigerian community abroad, according to the official schedule. King Charles hosted a reception last week for members of the Nigerian diaspora at St James’s Palace.
The state visit provides Britain and Nigeria, which already have a strong diplomatic relationship, a chance to discuss security and trade, as well as governance issues ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Remi Tinubu, a pastor, is set to preach at services at Lambeth Palace and to meet representatives of the Church of England.
London and Abuja concluded a strategic partnership in November 2024 to strengthen economic, immigration, and security cooperation.
Many banks from Africa’s fourth-largest economy operate subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, and the two nations signed an economic cooperation agreement in early 2024 under Britain’s previous Conservative government.
