British monarch King Charles III has praised Nigeria as an indispensable partner in global commerce and the Commonwealth during a state banquet at Windsor Castle in honour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.
The King described Nigeria as an economic powerhouse, cultural force, and influential diplomatic voice, highlighting its large youthful population of over 230 million, with half under 18, as key to innovation and enterprise. He noted Nigerian businesses are increasingly investing in the UK, with UK Export Finance supporting investments in ports and technology partnerships.
King Charles also celebrated Nigerian culture, joking about Nigerian jollof rice as the best and lauding the diaspora as a “living bridge” enriching British society across business, healthcare, academia, sports, and creative industries. He emphasised strengthening intra-Commonwealth trade through harmonised standards, regulatory alignment, and removing investment barriers to unlock economic opportunities for both nations.
Paying tribute to Nigeria’s history of religious coexistence, the monarch underscored ongoing collaboration in security and humanitarian support and urged both nations to learn from the past to build a future anchored on hope, cooperation, and shared prosperity. He concluded with a toast to Nigerians, saying: “Naija no dey carry last.”
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