King Charles III has said Nigeria has significantly enriched British culture, highlighting the contributions of people of Nigerian heritage across various sectors in the United Kingdom.
The monarch made the remarks on Wednesday during a state banquet held in honour of President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who are on a state visit to the UK — the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years.
He described the relationship between both countries as longstanding, noting that many Britons value their personal and cultural ties to Nigeria.
“We in the United Kingdom are blessed that so many people of Nigerian heritage, having chosen Britain as their home, are now at the heart of British life through excelling at the highest levels of business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature and the arts, and public service,” he said.
The King also reflected on his interactions with Nigerians in the UK, including young people supported by the King’s Trust, and referenced a recent cultural gathering at St. James’s Palace.
“I have met so many of these quiet heroes in our schools, businesses, National Health Service and universities, including countless young people who have flourished through the work of my King’s Trust over the last fifty years. Only last week, I was delighted to host a rather lively group of them for a ‘Jollof and Tea’ party at St. James’s Palace. I was firmly assured that the Jollof was only the best: Nigerian, of course… or perhaps Ghanaian or Senegalese. Diplomatically, I cannot remember!”
Reflecting on his first visit to Nigeria over three decades ago, the monarch said the country’s influence on British culture has grown remarkably, citing the global rise of Afrobeats, Nollywood, and the impact of Nigerians in sports and public life.
“But who could have imagined that, when I first visited Nigeria thirty-six years ago today, so many of those I might have met would have gone on to have such an impact in the United Kingdom. From Afrobeats filling our concert halls and Nollywood captivating our screens, to stars competing in our Premier League and adjudicating our highest courts, so much of Britain’s culture is, in truth, profoundly enriched by Nigeria.”
He added that Nigerians in the UK, alongside Britons with ties to Nigeria, form a vital link between both nations, strengthening economic, cultural, and security cooperation.
“Whether they are Nigerians who have chosen Britain as their adopted place to invest, trade or study, or Britons who cherish their personal connection to Nigeria, they all represent a living bridge of over half a million people who connect our nations, Mr President, and help make our cultures richer, our shared security stronger and our economies more prosperous.”
King Charles said the visit presents an opportunity to deepen bilateral ties, describing the relationship as a partnership of equals with mutual benefits.
“The friendship between our two countries, Mr President, is a partnership of equals that has brought us both enormous benefits. It has been described to me as a deeply spiritual connection – beyond churches and mosques – a deep bond through which we have strengthened our shared security, ensured our economies are more prosperous, and empowered each other to believe in a more hopeful future,” he said.