Royal Trip to Britain: The King's Complete Address

Your Excellency, Mr President, and Distinguished First Lady, Ekabo, the King and his wife are delighted to welcome you to Windsor Castle, expressing gratitude for your visit during the holy month, a significant sacrifice, and extending wishes of peace, blessings, and joy, with a special Ramadan Mubarak greeting.

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The King's recent visit to Nigeria in 2018 allowed him to spend time with respected traditional leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, the Ooni of Ife, Onitsha, Warri, and The Emir of Kano, witnessing the country's remarkable transformation, with Nigeria now being a nation of over 230 million people, half of whom are under eighteen, with great energy, ingenuity, ambition, and resolve.

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The United Kingdom is fortunate to have many people of Nigerian heritage excelling in various fields, including business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature, and the arts, and public service, with the King having met many of these individuals, including young people who have flourished through the work of his King's Trust over the last fifty years.

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Last week, the King hosted a 'Jollof and Tea' Party at St. James's Palace, where he was assured that the Jollof was of the highest quality, with a lively discussion about its origins, and he was reminded of the significant impact Nigerians have had in the United Kingdom, from Afrobeats to Nollywood, and from sports to the judiciary.

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Nigeria's culture has profoundly enriched Britain's, with many Nigerians choosing the UK as their adopted home, and Britons cherishing their personal connections to Nigeria, representing a living bridge of over half a million people connecting the two nations, and the King is proud to have many examples of this living bridge joining him this evening.

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The connections between the UK and Nigeria are deepening, with economic ties strengthening, as Nigeria invests in Britain's future, and Britain invests in Nigeria's, with leading Nigerian banks choosing the City of London as a global base, and UK Export Finance supporting investment in Nigeria's ports.

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In education, British schools and universities are opening their doors in Nigeria, and British and Nigerian technology companies are forming partnerships, with visitors from Nigeria spending £178 million in Britain in 2024, and 251,000 people from Britain travelling to Nigeria and spending a similar amount.

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Nigeria has become the UK's biggest export market in Africa, with the phrase 'Made in UK' symbolizing high quality, and now having a distinctively Nigerian flavor, and the friendship between the two countries is a partnership of equals, bringing enormous benefits, including strengthened shared security, more prosperous economies, and a deeper spiritual connection.

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The King acknowledges that the shared history between the two nations has painful marks, but believes that history is a lesson in how to move forward together, building a future rooted in hope and growth for all, and worthy of those who bore the pains of the past.

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This afternoon, the King and the President met with leaders of the British Christian and Muslim communities, a gathering that symbolized the importance of people of different faiths living together in peace and harmony, and the King is committed to standing with Nigeria in strengthening its Quick Reaction Forces and providing support in Northern Nigeria.

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Nigeria is an economic powerhouse, a cultural force, and an influential diplomatic voice, with leadership bringing responsibility and opportunity, and the King believes that the UK and Nigeria can tighten the grip of friendship and reinforce the central role of the Commonwealth in their shared future.

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The King recalls the Yoruba wisdom that "rain does not fall on one roof alone", and the President's observation that the global alliance of the Commonwealth is essential, with 56 member states, 2.7 billion people, and a combined GDP forecast to surpass $20 trillion, and he believes that the UK and Nigeria can learn from each other and harness their common languages, legal systems, and cultural ties to build a stronger future.

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The President has spoken of the importance of expanding intra-Commonwealth trade, creating shared standards, and removing barriers to investment, and the King agrees that the UK and Nigeria's Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership is a key example of this, with the potential to create millions of jobs and grow economies in harmony with nature.

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As the King looks towards the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this year, he hopes to demonstrate that the Commonwealth's time has come, and he will gain strength from seeing Nigeria take her rightful place at the heart of the Commonwealth, standing alongside the President as a friend, believing that the future is best built together.

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In closing, the King wishes the President and the millions of Muslims in their countries a joyful Eid El-Fitr, and proposes a toast, "To the President and people of Nigeria – Naija No Dey Carry Last!", a celebration of the strong bond between the two nations.