**Nigeria's First Lady Embarks on Historic State Visit to the UK** In a significant development in the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, Nigeria's First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, will deliver a sermon at the prestigious Lambeth Palace in London on Thursday. This visit marks a historic moment in Nigeria's first state visit to the UK in almost four decades, since the last visit in 1989. President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, arrived in the UK on Tuesday, commencing a high-level diplomatic engagement. As part of the visit, the First Lady will meet with representatives of the Church of England on the same day of her scheduled preaching. During their stay, President Tinubu and his wife are expected to meet with King Charles III on Wednesday, alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. The royal engagements will include a visit to Windsor and a state banquet later in the evening at Windsor Castle. The state visit underscores the longstanding diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the UK, with both nations strengthening cooperation through a strategic partnership signed in November 2024. Trade between the two countries reached £8.1 billion in September 2025, reflecting an 11.4 per cent increase. Discussions during the visit are expected to focus on key areas including trade, security, and infrastructure development, particularly British-backed Nigerian port renovation projects. In light of recent attacks in the northeast, President Tinubu has directed security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri to oversee operations and stabilise the region. On Thursday, the Nigerian leader is also scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as members of the Nigerian diaspora in the UK. This visit presents an opportunity for both nations to strengthen their ties and explore new areas of cooperation, reflecting the increasing importance of the Nigeria-UK relationship in the region.