As is typical with overseas visits, the King and the Nigerian President are known to have presented one another with a special gift to commemorate the special visit. State visits aim to build relationships with international partners, and the Nigerian visit will strengthen business links, including in financial services.
The King presented the Nigerian President with a large ‘Peacock’ or ‘Ọ̀kín’ plate, hand-crafted pottery from The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts programme at the Al-Foustat Ceramics Centre in Cairo.
In exchange, President Tinubu gifted the King an Eyo statuette commemorating the Eyo festival, also known as Adamu Orisha Play. The Lagos celebration – which is deeply rooted in Yoruba tradition – is held to honour royalty, ancestors, and historical events.
Joining her husband, the Queen also had a special gift in place for the Nigerian First Lady. This gift came in the form of a silver and enamel bowl made by Northern Irish silversmith, Cara Murphy, in a bespoke box.
The Nigerian First Lady then presented the Queen with a ‘Matriarchs of Nigeria’ jewellery box, topped with the relief of the faces of powerful and important Nigerian women.
The King and Queen then presented the couple with a joint gift – an arch-topped silver photograph frame engraved with Their Majesties’ joint cypher, enclosing a signed photograph of The King and Queen.
The visit celebrates the relationship between the UK and Africa’s most populous nation, with a focus on strengthening economic and cultural ties. The Prince and Princess of Wales were pictured greeting the couple at the start of their official visit this morning.
The visit also features an interfaith element, aimed at strengthening understanding between religions. This carries added significance as the President observes Ramadan, meaning some traditional elements of the visit are being adapted.
Later this evening, the day will culminate in a grand state banquet in St George’s Hall, where the King and President are set to deliver speeches. Senior royals, political figures and notable guests with ties to Nigeria are expected to attend the glittering occasion.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
