By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
WARM DIPLOMATIC exchanges marked Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu’s state visit as King Charles III delivered a speech welcoming him and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to Windsor Castle, expressing gratitude for the journey and extending wishes of peace, blessings and joy.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the King, addressing the President and his wife, opened with Yoruba greetings and acknowledged the significance of the visit, noting appreciation for travel undertaken during the month and describing it as no small sacrifice.
He also added religious greetings and recalled his 2018 visit to Nigeria, where he met traditional leaders including the then Sultan of Sokoto, the Ooni of Ife, leaders in Onitsha and Warri, and the Emir of Kano.
The King stated that while the warmth of the Nigerian welcome remains constant, the country itself is transforming at a remarkable pace.
He described Nigeria as a nation of over 230 million people, with half under eighteen, possessing the energy, ingenuity, ambition and resolve to address the challenges of the age.
King Charles said the United Kingdom (UK) is blessed by people of Nigerian heritage who have chosen Britain as home and are contributing at the highest levels across business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature, the arts and public service.
He spoke of meeting individuals in schools, businesses, the National Health Service (NHS) and universities, including young people supported by his King’s Trust over the past fifty years.
The King noted hosting a group for a jollof and tea gathering at St James’s Palace and remarked that he was assured the dish was the best, adding diplomatically that it could be Nigerian or perhaps Ghanaian or Senegalese.
He said many people he had met have gone on to make significant impact in the UK, citing Afrobeats filling concert halls, Nollywood on screens, and Nigerian stars in the Premier League and the courts.
He added that Britain’s culture is enriched by Nigeria and described a living bridge of over half a million people connecting both nations.
The King stated that economic ties continue to deepen, highlighting Nigerian investment in Britain and British investment in Nigeria.
He said leading Nigerian banks have chosen the City of London as a global base, Nigerian companies are listed on the London Stock Exchange, and UK Export Finance is supporting investment in Nigerian ports.
He added that British schools and universities are opening doors in Nigeria, while British and Nigerian technology companies are forming closer partnerships.
He also said that visitors from Nigeria spent £178 million in Britain in 2024, while 251,000 people from Britain travelled to Nigeria and spent similar amounts. He stated that Nigeria became the UK’s biggest export market in Africa in January.
The King described the relationship as a partnership of equals bringing enormous benefits, adding that it has been described to him as a deeply spiritual connection beyond churches and mosques, strengthening shared security and prosperity.
He acknowledged that historical ties include chapters that have left painful marks, stating that history cannot be dissolved but serves as a lesson in building a future rooted in hope and growth.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the King also referred to a meeting with leaders of British Christian and Muslim communities, describing it as a symbol of Nigeria’s example of people of different faiths living in peace, harmony and shared purpose.
He described Nigeria as an economic powerhouse, a cultural force and an influential diplomatic voice from a continent playing an increasingly important global role.
He then quoted Yoruba wisdom, stating that rain does not fall on one roof alone, and referenced remarks made during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in 2024 about the importance of global alliance among fifty-six member states with 2.7 billion people and a combined GDP forecast to surpass $20 trillion.
He concluded by expressing belief in strengthening friendship between both nations when challenges arise.
