President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday welcomed Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark to the State House in Abuja, calling for deeper bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Denmark, particularly in livestock development, veterinary health, education, and the green economy.
The visit, Queen Mary’s first to Nigeria was co-hosted by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and conducted under her role as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
According to a statement from presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said that ongoing conflicts between farmers and herders could be transformed into economic opportunities through investment and education.
“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,” the President said.
Tinubu stressed the urgency of preparing for Nigeria’s projected population of 400 million by 2050 through strategic investments in agriculture, education, healthcare, and job creation.
“Demography is one of the key pillars of our foreign policy. We must manage that growth through targeted investments,” he added.
President Tinubu also welcomed more foreign investment aligned with Nigeria’s economic reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, and praised Danish companies like A.P. Moller–Maersk and Grundfos for their roles in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural and maritime sectors.
He further commended Denmark for its support to internally displaced persons in conflict-affected areas and expressed optimism for stronger collaboration, especially as Denmark prepares to chair the EU Council and take a seat on the UN Security Council (2025–2026).
On the social front, Tinubu and Queen Mary discussed joint efforts to improve child health, education, and school feeding programs. The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, highlighted the need to integrate traditional Islamic education into Nigeria’s formal school system.
“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 appreciation for the warm reception and affirmed her interest in enhancing cooperation in women’s empowerment, health, and trade. She praised the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative and announced plans to visit the A.P. Moller–Maersk terminal in Lagos during her visit.
“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 stated.
