King Charles III hosted President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at a state banquet in Windsor Castle on Wednesday, highlighting Nigeria’s cultural, economic, and diplomatic impact on the United Kingdom.
The dinner marked the second day of Tinubu’s two-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.
In a speech at St George’s Hall, the British monarch praised Nigeria’s growth and global presence, closing with a flourish in Nigerian Pidgin: “Naija No Dey Carry Last!”—prompting smiles and applause from the audience.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s transformation since his 2018 visit, King Charles described the country as a nation of over 230 million people, half of them under 18, brimming with “energy, ingenuity, ambition and resolve” to address global challenges. He remarked, “Nigeria hasn’t merely changed… it has arrived.”
The King also highlighted Nigeria’s influence on British culture, noting its contributions to music, film, and sports.
“From Afrobeats filling our concert halls and Nollywood captivating our screens, to stars competing in our Premier League and adjudicating our highest courts, so much of Britain’s culture is, in truth, profoundly enriched by Nigeria,” he said.
He praised Nigeria’s model of religious coexistence, referencing support for the country’s Quick Reaction Forces and his earlier meeting with British Christian and Muslim leaders.
“The gathering was a deeply meaningful symbol of what Nigeria has long shown: that people of different faiths can, do, and must live alongside one another, in peace, in harmony and in shared purpose,” he added.
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Here are 5 highlights from his speech:
- Reflecting on his 2018 visit and earlier trips, the King said Nigeria “hasn’t merely changed… it has arrived.” He described Nigeria as a nation of over 230 million people, half under 18, full of “energy, ingenuity, ambition and resolve” to tackle global challenges.
- King Charles highlighted how Nigerian culture has enriched Britain, from Afrobeats in concert halls to Nollywood on screens. He also mentioned Nigerian stars competing in the Premier League and adjudicating in courts. The monarch said, “From Afrobeats filling our concert halls and Nollywood captivating our screens, to stars competing in our Premier League and adjudicating our highest courts, so much of Britain’s culture is, in truth, profoundly enriched by Nigeria.”
- Praising Nigeria’s model of peaceful coexistence among faiths, he referenced support for Nigeria’s Quick Reaction Forces and aid in Northern Nigeria.
“This afternoon, I witnessed one such example of how we are learning from one another when we met leaders of the British Christian and Muslim communities.
“The gathering was a deeply meaningful symbol of what Nigeria has long shown: that people of different faiths can, do, and must live alongside one another, in peace, in harmony and in shared purpose,” King Charles said.
He described Nigeria as an “economic powerhouse, a cultural force and an influential diplomatic voice.”
- The King addressed the “shadow” of shared colonial history.
“There are chapters in our shared history that I know have left some painful marks. I do not seek to offer words that dissolve the past, for no words can.”
He, however, emphasised learning from history to build a better future.
- King Charles might have admitted Nigerians make the best Jollof rice in Africa, but he was diplomatic.
He shared a light-hearted anecdote about hosting a “rather lively group” of young Nigerians for a “Jollof and Tea” party at St. James’s Palace last week, joking diplomatically about the eternal Jollof debate.
“I was firmly assured that the Jollof was only the best: Nigerian, of course… or perhaps Ghanaian or Senegalese. Diplomatically, I cannot remember!”