Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: KING Charles is hosting the first Nigerian state visit to the UK for 37 years, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife Oluremi Tinubu given a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle.
At the start of the two-day visit, the leaders of the African nation with the biggest population – triple that of the UK – were greeted by senior royals including Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The King and President Tinubu gave speeches on March 18 at the state banquet, which was attended by political leaders and celebrities with links to Nigeria. However, there was no traditional lunch with the King at Windsor as the president is a Muslim and fasting for Ramadan.
During his address, King Charles described Nigeria as an “economic powerhouse, a cultural force and an influential diplomatic voice”. As well as diplomatic ties, King Charles spoke of “Afrobeats filling our concert halls and Nollywood captivating our screens”.
There was also a reflection by the King on the “painful marks” of a shared history, in a reference to colonialism.
