President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday, received Her Majesty Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Danish monarch was hosted at the State House during an official visit to Nigeria.
This marks Queen Mary Elizabeth’s first official visit to Nigeria since ascending the throne last year.
The visit, according to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, was part of Queen Mary’s engagement as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). She was co-hosted by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
In a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu underscored Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Denmark, especially in areas of knowledge transfer, veterinary health, sustainable agriculture, and green economy investment.
Addressing one of Nigeria’s pressing domestic challenges, the President spoke on the persistent conflicts between farmers and herders, framing it as both a security threat and a developmental hurdle. However, he struck an optimistic tone.
“We can convert that friction into structured economic opportunity and provide education pathways—even for farmers and herders. We can stabilise communities, grow our food systems, and lift millions out of poverty,” Tinubu said.
The President reaffirmed that demography remains a key pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a central focus of his Renewed Hope Agenda. With Nigeria’s population projected to reach 400 million by 2050, he emphasised the urgency of targeted investments in agriculture, education, healthcare, and employment to manage future demands.
Tinubu also highlighted his administration’s ongoing macroeconomic reforms, calling for responsible foreign investment that contributes directly to local production and job creation. He acknowledged existing Danish contributions to Nigeria’s economy, particularly through agriculture and maritime infrastructure, and praised firms such as A.P. Moller–Maersk and Grundfos for their roles in supporting the country’s food and water systems.
Commending Denmark’s humanitarian efforts, Tinubu expressed appreciation for its support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in conflict-affected regions of Nigeria. He also voiced confidence in sustained cooperation as Denmark prepares to assume the presidency of the European Union Council and becomes a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (2025–2026).
The President welcomed growing collaboration between Her Majesty and Nigeria’s First Lady, particularly on education-focused initiatives. These include efforts to expand school feeding programmes and reduce the number of out-of-school children.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu also used the occasion to advocate for the transformation of Islamic traditional schools (Almajiri system) into formalised institutions whose curriculum is recognised by the national education framework.
In her remarks, Queen Mary thanked President Tinubu and the First Lady for the warm reception and expressed sympathy over the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s northeast. She said her visit was aimed at strengthening Denmark–Nigeria relations, with a focus on child health, women’s empowerment, green investment, trade, and cultural exchange.
The Queen also commended the First Lady’s work through the Renewed Hope Initiative, praising its support for women and families across Nigeria. She revealed plans to visit the A.P. Moller–Maersk terminal in Lagos as part of her ongoing business and diplomatic engagements.
