President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, are scheduled for a state visit to the United Kingdom, the first for a Nigerian leader in 37 years.
The visit is at the invitation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla and presents another opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s relations with the United Kingdom.
According to the BBC, the last Nigerian state visit to the UK took place in 1989, when military ruler Gen Ibrahim Babangida travelled to meet the late Queen Elizabeth II for a four-day trip.
State visits are considered a form of soft-power diplomacy, using the pomp of royal hospitality to strengthen relations with important international partners.
The visit comes at a time of improving diplomatic and economic links between the UK and Nigeria – with trade between the two worth more than £8bn in the year to October, government figures show. This makes the African nation one of the UK’s most important partners on the continent.
In 2024, the two countries signed a new trade and investment partnership designed to expand opportunities for business.
The agenda for the March visit has not been disclosed, nor details of the events planned for it, but state visits typically include carriage processions and a state banquet, and usually coincide with visiting leaders having political meetings.
Nigerian Diaspora in the United Kingdom
Nigeria has a strong diaspora in the United Kingdom that covers politicians, professionals, creative arts, and sports.
The List is a rich one from Kemi Badenoch(Conservative Party Leader), Chuka Umunna (Former Labour Party Member of Parliament), Councillor Jackson Utitofon Jackson (Mayor of Islington), to celebrities and sportsmen like Anthony Joshua (Boxing), Tunde Baiyewu (Lighthouse family-Music), Sade Adu (Music), Bukayo Saka (Football), Noni Madueke (Football) and Tammy Abraham (Football).
According to the British High Commission, Nigeria has over 500,000 citizens living and working in the United Kingdom, across sectors like Healthcare, Creative industry, financial services, and other professional services sectors.
Nigeria-United Kingdom Trade Relations
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have one of the most strategic and dynamic trade relations, which have shaped investments and trade over the years. This has been strengthened and facilitated by the vibrant Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce and Trade.
According to the British High Commission, as of 2025, Nigeria’s trade with the United Kingdom reached 7.9 billion pounds, translating to N16 trillion.
With the Expanded Trade Investment Partnership between both countries, the prospects for deeper and robust trade relations are bright, and diplomacy is vital.
Some British companies in Nigeria include Unilever, Shell, PZ Cussons, British Airways, and Diageo/Guinness.
