Nigeria’s First Lady Set to Preach at Lambeth Palace in the UK
President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu arrived at London’s Stansted Airport on Tuesday, marking the beginning of Nigeria’s first state visit to the United Kingdom in nearly four decades.
The last Nigerian leader to make a formal state visit to Britain was General Ibrahim Babangida, who was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in May 1989 making today’s visit a 37-year milestone in the bilateral relationship between Africa’s most populous nation and its former colonial power.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, a Christian pastor, is set to preach at London’s Lambeth Palace, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury on Thursday and meet representatives of the Church of England.
The First Lady will attend a prayer service and be invited to preach, and will join representatives from the Church of England and faith charities that have provided support in Nigeria including Christian Aid at a reception at Lambeth Palace.
The President and First Lady first met heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, travelling with them to Windsor. King Charles III then received Tinubu for a private audience at the historic Windsor Castle before hosting a state banquet there in the evening.
Tinubu is the first Nigerian leader to be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.
Thursday’s schedule adds further diplomatic weight. Tinubu is expected to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street as well as members of the Nigerian community abroad.
The Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom is one of the largest in the world, making the community engagement a politically significant element of the visit.
