By John Umeh
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to make history in March as he undertakes a state visit to the United Kingdom—the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years—following a formal invitation from King Charles III.
The two-day visit, scheduled for March 18 and 19, 2026, was confirmed in an official announcement released on Sunday by the British royal family. During the visit, President Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.
According to the statement, the Nigerian president has formally accepted the monarch’s invitation, marking a significant moment in diplomatic relations between both countries.
Reacting to the development, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the visit as a major diplomatic breakthrough, underscoring its historic importance.
“This confirms the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in 37 years. President Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu will be hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla from March 18 to 19, 2026,” Onanuga said.
The last time a Nigerian head of government was accorded a state visit to the UK was in 1989, when former military president Ibrahim Babangida was received for a four-day visit by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
State visits, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), are a key element of diplomatic soft power, blending royal ceremony with strategic political engagement to reinforce ties with important international partners.
President Tinubu and King Charles have maintained regular contact since assuming office in May 2023. In November of that year, both leaders met in Dubai ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), a meeting Tinubu described as pivotal to advancing Nigeria–UK cooperation.
The British monarch also hosted the Nigerian president at Buckingham Palace in September 2024 during a private audience.
King Charles has long-standing personal ties with Nigeria. Before becoming monarch, he visited the country four times—in 1990, 1999, 2006, and 2018—while serving as Prince of Wales. Queen Camilla accompanied him on the 2018 visit.
The King has frequently spoken fondly of Nigeria, expressing admiration for Nigerian Pidgin English and the global rise of Afrobeats music. In 2023, the King’s Trust International, formerly The Prince’s Trust, formally commenced operations in Nigeria, launching programmes focused on youth empowerment and entrepreneurship.
The upcoming state visit is widely expected to further strengthen diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
