UK State Visit: Tinubu Receives 42-Gun Salute At Windsor Castle

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received a 42-gun salute at Windsor Castle as he commenced his state visit to the United Kingdom.

Tinubu, accompanied by his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, was accorded the military honour by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery during a ceremonial welcome hosted by King Charles III.

Earlier, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Catherine, had received Tinubu and his wife at the Fairmont Hotel before accompanying them to Windsor Castle for the official reception.

At the castle, both sides exchanged commemorative gifts, while items related to Nigeria preserved in the Royal Collection were also displayed.

The visit will include a state banquet in honour of the Nigerian delegation, during which Tinubu and King Charles III are expected to deliver speeches to invited guests.

As part of the programme, the President and the First Lady are expected to lay a wreath at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II at St George’s Chapel.

They are also scheduled to engage with organisations promoting interfaith dialogue.

According to the itinerary, Tinubu will meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and members of the Nigerian community in the UK on Thursday.

The state visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both countries to discuss security, trade, and governance.

Nigeria, UK Boost Bilateral Trade

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady, Oluremi, were on Wednesday treated to a magnificent royal honour as the Nigerian leader and wife were guests of the British monarch, King Charles III, in a state visit that commenced on Wednesday.

The state visit was heralded by a series of bilateral trade agreements aimed at boosting trade volumes between the two countries and expanding business opportunities for citizens of both countries.

Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, were received at a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle, making him the first   Nigerian President to be so honoured with a state visit in 37 years. As part of the ceremony, Tinubu and his wife were greeted by senior royals, including Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

In warm spring sunshine, the president and first lady – wearing traditional robes – were given the ceremonial grandeur of a royal welcome.

There was a carriage procession, bringing the Nigerian visitors into the quadrangle inside Windsor Castle, where a military band, with careful symmetry, paraded on the checkerboard lawn.

There was a gun salute, national anthems were played, guards were inspected, and the Household Cavalry kicked up dust as they paraded inside the castle, in front of a viewing stand for the King and Queen and their visitors.

President Tinubu and Mrs Tinubu had been met earlier by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, before being escorted to formally meet the King and Queen.

When the royal hosts and their visitors entered the castle, they viewed Nigerian items from the Royal Collection, including a Yoruba throne, sculptures, paintings, and the manuscript of a poem by Sir Ben Okri.

Official gifts were exchanged. The president and Mrs Tinubu were given hand-crafted pottery, a silver photo frame containing a picture of the King and Queen and a silver and enamel bowl.

In return, the King and Queen were given a traditional Yoruba statuette and a jewellery box featuring the faces of important Nigerian women.

State visits are a way of building relationships with international partners, and experts said President Tinubu’s visit to the United Kingdom will strengthen business links, including financial services.

“This state visit is about turning a historic relationship into a modern economic partnership – transforming trust into opportunity,” Nigeria’s Minister of Information and government spokesman, Mohammed Idris, said.

“Nigeria’s economic reforms are unlocking the potential of Africa’s largest consumer market. The United Kingdom is a natural partner in what comes next,” he added.

The UK’s Business and Trade Department remarked that Nigeria’s Zenith Bank had opened a branch in Manchester this week, creating new jobs.

On Thursday, Mrs Tinubu, an ordained pastor, is set to preach at a service at Lambeth Palace and meet representatives of the Church of England.

Despite the challenges facing Nigeria, this visit has opened opportunities for more bilateral engagement between the UK and   Nigeria in business and investment.

Yesterday, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UK‑based Asset Green Ltd to advance the development of a large‑scale integrated dairy livestock production and processing platform set to transform Nigeria’s dairy industry and strengthen national food security.

Signed yesterday in London ahead of the State Visit, the MoU outlines the framework for collaboration and the project‑development cost commitments leading up to the formal shareholders’ agreement, a statement issued on Wednesday by the British High Commission in Abuja said.

This initiative represents one of the most ambitious integrated dairy investments ever undertaken in Nigeria. It will combine 20,000 hectares of climate-smart, regenerative crop and forage production with a modern 10,000-milking-cow dairy operation, supported by a state-of-the-art processing plant capable of producing fresh milk, milk powders, butter, cream, and up to 15,000 metric tonnes of infant formula annually.

Designed to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported milk powder, the project will modernise agricultural practices, improve nutrition, and integrate up to 10,000 rural households into the supply chain through inclusive out‑grower schemes. Once operational, the platform is expected to generate over US$620 million annually and create 2,500 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs nationwide.

British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, said: “Over a decade ago, the UK provided pivotal support to Nigeria in establishing the NSIA, offering legal and financial expertise that helped lay the foundation for its successful launch and strengthening its governance and credibility.

“ That early institutional investment has paid dividends, helping to build a resilient Nigerian institution capable of creating jobs and driving transformational, long‑term development.

“The NSIA and Asset Green partnership is a powerful example of how that groundwork continues to deliver impact – a full‑circle moment that reflects the long-term economic cooperation between the UK and Nigeria and the shared commitment to deepening sustainable, private‑sector‑driven growth.”

NSIA managing director and CEO, Aminu Umar‑Sadiq, said: “NSIA is pleased to partner with Asset Green on this transformative investment. With a project size of almost US$500 million. This is one of the most ambitious initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s food and nutrition security in a generation.

“By combining climate‑smart farming, advanced processing capacity, and inclusive out‑grower participation, we are laying the foundation for a modern, competitive dairy sector that reduces import dependence, creates meaningful jobs, and delivers long‑term value for Nigerians.”

Asset Green Ltd Director & Agrium Capital Ltd CEO, Rod Bassett, said: “This partnership between NSIA and Asset Green is the business and investment innovation required to unlock the potential of the agriculture sector in Nigeria, with the development of such a future (dairy) food system.

“The foundation of the approach is collaboration with NSIA, which shares its vision and purpose, to establish a platform that catalyses the development of this national strategic priority. We are incredibly proud to partner with Nigeria’s premier investment institution.

“The development of greenfield projects has consistently played a major role in our history, establishing industries or nurturing young businesses that are able to deliver catalytic transformation.”

This US$500 million greenfield investment in Nigeria’s dairy industry, he said, allows for the development of advanced and necessary infrastructure spanning the full production and supply system to enhance local production, reduce the reliance on the huge imports of dairy goods into Nigeria, deliver environmental services and strengthen national food sovereignty and nutritional resilience.