President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday received Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark at the State House in Abuja, marking her first official visit to Nigeria. The visit, co-hosted by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, focused on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in education, agriculture, and humanitarian support.
The Queen’s visit was conducted under her role as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
During their meeting, President Tinubu emphasized the need for closer collaboration in areas such as livestock development, veterinary health, and education. He highlighted the potential to transform farmer-herder conflicts into structured economic opportunities through investment in education and agriculture.
“We can convert that friction into structured economic opportunity and provide education pathways, even for farmers and herders,” Tinubu said. “This way, we can stabilise communities, strengthen food systems, and lift millions out of poverty.”
Tinubu stressed the urgency of planning for Nigeria’s projected population of 400 million by 2050, calling for strategic investments in agriculture, education, healthcare, and employment.
He also welcomed increased foreign investment in line with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and praised Danish companies like A.P. Moller–Maersk and Grundfos for their ongoing contributions to Nigeria’s infrastructure.
The President thanked Denmark for its support for internally displaced persons in Nigeria’s conflict zones and expressed optimism for deeper cooperation as Denmark prepares to chair the EU Council and serve on the UN Security Council from 2025 to 2026.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in her remarks, emphasized reforming traditional Islamic education by integrating it into Nigeria’s formal education system.
In response, Queen Mary expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to humanitarian efforts in Nigeria’s Northeast. She outlined plans to explore investment in the green economy, women’s entrepreneurship, child health, and cultural exchange.
“I am here to strengthen relations and explore opportunities in education, trade, and development, especially for women and children,” Queen Mary said.
