King Charles III has said some chapters in the shared history between the United Kingdom and Nigeria have “left some painful marks.”
He said the partnership between the two countries is now rooted in hope and mutual growth.
The British monarch made the remarks on Wednesday night at a state banquet hosted for President Bola Tinubu at Windsor Castle, marking the first Nigerian presidential state visit to the UK in 37 years.
“The many dynamic connections between our two nations have deep roots, and yet I do not pretend that those roots are without a shadow.
“There are chapters in our shared history that I know have left some painful marks.
“I do not seek to offer words that dissolve the past, for no words can, but I do believe, as I know you believe, Mr. President, that history is not merely a record of what was done to us.
“It is a lesson in how we go forward together to continue building a future rooted in hope and growth for all and worthy of those who bore the pains of the past,” King Charles stated.
Nigeria was under British colonial rule from 1914 to 1960, during which period the country’s resources were exploited, and its political and economic systems were restructured to serve British interests.
While acknowledging the past, King Charles praised Nigeria’s transformation, declaring that the country “hasn’t merely changed. It has arrived.”
He described Nigeria as “a nation of over 230 million people, half of whom are under 18, with the energy, ingenuity, ambition and resolve to address the great challenges of our age.”
The King also disclosed that Nigeria became the United Kingdom’s biggest export market in Africa in January 2026, underscoring the deepening economic ties between both nations.
“In January of this year, Nigeria became the United Kingdom’s biggest export market in Africa,” King Charles stated, adding that “the phrase ‘made in UK’ has always symbolised the highest quality” in Nigeria.
He revealed that visitors from Nigeria spent £178 million in Britain in 2024, while 251,000 people from Britain travelled to Nigeria and spent just as much in return.
The King highlighted the significant contributions of the Nigerian diaspora to British society, noting that the UK is “blessed that so many people of Nigerian heritage have chosen Britain as their home and are now at the heart of British life.”
“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 said.
King Charles described the over half a million Nigerians in the UK as “a living bridge” that connects both nations and helps make their cultures richer, shared security stronger, and economies more prosperous.
In a lighter moment, the King recounted hosting a “Jollof and Tea Party” at St James’s Palace last week for young Nigerians who have benefited from his King’s Trust over the last 50 years.
“I was firmly assured that the Jollof was only the best, Nigerian, of course. Or perhaps it was Ghanaian or Senegalese. Diplomatically, I cannot remember,” he said, drawing laughter with a reference to the ongoing West African “Jollof Wars” debate over which country makes the best version of the popular rice dish.
The King also acknowledged Tinubu’s sacrifice in travelling during the holy month of Ramadan, wishing him peace, blessings and an abundance of joy and Ramadan Mubarak.
He recalled his 2018 visit to Nigeria as Prince of Wales, when he met with traditional leaders including the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife and Olu of Warri, noting that the warmth of the Nigerian welcome remains constant even as the country transforms.
On economic cooperation, King Charles highlighted that leading Nigerian banks have chosen the City of London as a global base, Nigerian companies have listed on the London Stock Exchange, and UK Export Finance is supporting investment in Nigeria’s ports.
He also noted that British schools and universities are opening their doors in Nigeria, while British and Nigerian technology companies are forming ever closer partnerships.
The King emphasised the importance of the Commonwealth, quoting President Tinubu’s observation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa in 2024 that “if we didn’t have this global alliance of 56 member states, 2.7 billion people and a combined GDP forecast soon to surpass $20tn, there would be a need to create one.”
“I hope, far from being past its time, we can demonstrate that the Commonwealth’s time has come,” King Charles stated, expressing hope that Nigeria would take “her rightful place at the heart of the Commonwealth.”
In his 12-minute address, the King quoted Nigerian proverbs including the Yoruba wisdom that “rain does not fall on one roof alone,” the Hausa saying that “when the music changes, so does the dance,” and the Igbo proverb that “knowledge is never complete, two heads are better than one.”
He wished Muslims in both countries Eid Mubarak in anticipation of Eid-el-Fitr and proposed a toast to the President and people of Nigeria.
The state visit, which runs from March 18 to 19, is expected to result in several agreements covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation, including a £746m financing deal for port refurbishment in Lagos.
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