First Lady Oluremi Tinubu is scheduled to preach at Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, on Thursday, as Nigeria marks its first state visit to the United Kingdom in nearly four decades.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady arrived on Tuesday at London Stansted Airport to begin the historic visit. On the same day as her scheduled preaching, Oluremi is also expected to meet with representatives of the Church of England.
According to the official programme reported by AFP, the First Lady’s engagement follows a series of high-level meetings involving the president. On Wednesday, the couple is set to meet King Charles III, alongside heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, who will accompany them to Windsor.
Later in the day, King Charles will host President Tinubu at Windsor Castle for a formal audience, followed by a state banquet in the evening.
Nigeria and the United Kingdom maintain long-standing ties in trade, defence, and development, with London also serving as home to a large Nigerian diaspora. Both countries further strengthened relations through a strategic partnership agreement signed in November 2024, focusing on economic growth, immigration, and security cooperation.
Trade between the two nations reached 8.1 billion pounds ($11 billion) in the year leading up to September 2025, reflecting an 11.4 percent increase, according to reports.
The visit comes shortly after deadly attacks in northeastern Nigeria, where suspected suicide bombings in Maiduguri claimed at least 23 lives and left more than 100 injured. In response, President Tinubu directed security chiefs to relocate to the affected area to take control of the situation.
On Thursday, the president is also expected to meet Keir Starmer and members of the Nigerian community in Britain. Notably absent from the official schedule is the customary meeting with the British opposition.
The last Nigerian state visit to the UK took place in 1989, although Tinubu previously met King Charles in September 2024. Before ascending the throne, Charles had visited Nigeria four times as Prince of Wales, prior to the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
What you should know
Oluremi Tinubu’s planned preaching at Lambeth Palace highlights the religious and diplomatic dimension of Nigeria’s state visit to the UK.
Beyond political engagements, the visit reflects cultural and faith-based ties between both countries, especially through institutions like the Church of England.
The trip also comes at a sensitive time for Nigeria due to recent security challenges, while discussions are expected to focus on trade, security cooperation, and strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
