By Peter Adelowo
President Bola Tinubu is set to embark on a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom in March, marking the first such visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years.
This visit, at the invitation of King Charles III, will take place from March 18, 2026, and will be accompanied by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.
The last Nigerian state visit to the UK occurred in 1989, when then Military President Ibrahim Babangida was hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
This state visit is seen as an important diplomatic engagement, with the royal hospitality playing a key role in strengthening international relations.
President Tinubu and King Charles III, who both assumed office in May 2023, have met on multiple occasions, including ahead of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in November 2023.
In September 2024, King Charles received Tinubu at Buckingham Palace for a private meeting.
Though the full agenda for the visit has not been disclosed, Buckingham Palace has indicated that more details will be shared in due course.
The visit comes as King Charles has shown strong ties to Nigeria, having visited the country four times as Prince of Wales and launched the King’s Trust International project in 2023 to address youth unemployment in Nigeria.
