President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday welcomed Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark to the State House in Abuja, calling for stronger cooperation between Nigeria and Denmark in areas such as livestock development, veterinary health, and education.
This visit marked Queen Mary’s first official trip to Nigeria and was hosted jointly by President Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The event took place under the framework of Queen Mary’s work as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
During the meeting, President Tinubu noted that the ongoing clashes between farmers and herders could be turned into growth opportunities through education and structured support.
“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,” he said.
He also spoke about the importance of planning for Nigeria’s future, especially with its growing population. With the country expected to reach 400 million people by the year 2050, he noted that the government is working on targeted investments in sectors like education, health, agriculture, and job creation to manage this growth.
President Tinubu acknowledged the positive role of Danish companies in Nigeria, such as A.P. Moller–Maersk and Grundfos, which are active in maritime and agricultural sectors. He encouraged further investments that align with the goals of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to improve the economy and the lives of everyday Nigerians.
He also appreciated Denmark’s support for people displaced by conflict and expressed hope that future partnerships would grow, especially as Denmark takes on leadership roles in both the European Union and the United Nations Security Council between 2025 and 2026.
On the social side, the President and Queen Mary discussed joint initiatives aimed at helping children, especially in areas like school feeding and reducing the number of children who are not attending school.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, also spoke during the event. She noted the need to reform the education system, including the integration of traditional Islamic schools into the broader national structure. “We must find ways to formally recognise the knowledge traditional Islamic schools offer and bring them into our wider educational structure,” she said.
Queen Mary expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome and stated that her visit was to deepen cooperation and explore business opportunities. “I am here to strengthen relations and explore investment opportunities in the green economy, trade and business development for women, child health, and cultural and educational exchanges,” she said.
She also praised the First Lady for her work through the Renewed Hope Initiative and announced that her visit would include a stop at the A.P. Moller–Maersk terminal in Lagos.
