First Lady Tinubu to Preach at Lambeth Palace During UK Visit

By Abah Margaret

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, is set to preach at Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, on Thursday as part of her engagements during the ongoing state visit to the United Kingdom.

She is accompanying President Bola Tinubu, who is leading Nigeria’s first state visit to the UK in nearly four decades.

The President and the First Lady arrived in London on Tuesday via Stansted Airport.

During her visit, the First Lady is also expected to hold meetings with representatives of the Church of England on the same day as her scheduled preaching.

High-Level Royal Meetings

According to the official programme, the Nigerian leader and his wife are scheduled to meet King Charles III on Wednesday.

They are also expected to meet Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales before proceeding to Windsor Castle.

King Charles III is later expected to host President Tinubu at Windsor Castle for a state banquet in his honour.

Strengthening Nigeria–UK Relations

The visit underscores growing diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and United Kingdom.

Both nations signed a strategic partnership agreement in November 2024 aimed at enhancing cooperation in trade, security, and migration.

Key areas of discussion during the visit include British-backed port development projects in Nigeria, as well as bilateral trade, which reached £8.1 billion (approximately $11 billion) in the year to September 2025—representing an 11.4 per cent increase year-on-year.