By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, is set to preach at Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, on Thursday, as President Bola Tinubu undertakes Nigeria’s first state visit to the United Kingdom 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 meet representatives of the Church of England on the same day as her scheduled preaching.
According to the official programme reported by AFP, President Tinubu and his wife will meet King Charles III on Wednesday. They are also scheduled to meet the heir to the throne, Prince William, alongside his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, before travelling together to Windsor.
King Charles is later expected to receive the Nigerian president at Windsor Castle, where he will host a state banquet in his honour.
The visit comes amid growing diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Both countries signed a strategic partnership agreement in November 2024 aimed at strengthening cooperation in trade, security and migration.
Key issues expected to feature in discussions include British-backed port development projects in Nigeria and bilateral trade, which reached £8.1 billion (about $11 billion) in the year to September 2025, an 11.4 per cent increase year-on-year.