President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday welcomed Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark to the State House in Abuja, as both countries signaled renewed interest in strengthening bilateral ties in critical areas such as education, agriculture, and economic development.
The visit, which marked Queen Mary’s first official trip to Nigeria, was co-hosted by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and held under the banner of her role as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Speaking during the meeting, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of transforming existing challenges in Nigeria, especially the ongoing conflict between farmers and herders, into structured economic opportunities through education and investment.
“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,” the President said.
He also underscored the need for long-term planning in anticipation of Nigeria’s projected population growth, expected to reach 400 million by 2050, stating that the country’s foreign policy will increasingly focus on demography.
“We must manage that growth through targeted investments in agriculture, education, healthcare, and employment,” Tinubu added.
The President applauded Danish companies like A.P. Moller–Maersk and Grundfos for their continued investments in Nigeria’s maritime and agricultural sectors. He also welcomed future foreign direct investment in alignment with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at macroeconomic reform.
President Tinubu further praised Denmark’s humanitarian support for Nigeria’s internally displaced persons, expressing optimism for deeper collaboration as Denmark prepares to take on leadership roles in the European Union Council and the United Nations Security Council between 2025 and 2026.
On the social front, the Nigerian leader highlighted ongoing joint initiatives to improve school feeding programs and reduce the number of out-of-school children.
In her remarks, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu stressed the importance of educational reform, especially with regard to traditional Islamic schools.
“We must find ways to formally recognise the knowledge traditional Islamic schools offer and integrate them into our broader educational framework,” she said.
Queen Mary, in her response, thanked the President and First Lady for the warm welcome and expressed Denmark’s continued solidarity with Nigeria, especially in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast.
“I am here to strengthen relations and explore investment opportunities in the green economy, trade, business development for women, child health, and cultural and educational exchanges,” the Danish monarch said.
She also commended the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative and disclosed plans to visit the A.P. Moller–Maersk terminal in Lagos during her stay.
