President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday received Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark at the State House, Abuja, and called for deeper bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Denmark, especially in livestock development, veterinary health, and education.
The visit, Queen Mary’s first to Nigeria, was co-hosted by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
It was conducted under the auspices of her role as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu was quoted as saying that the challenges posed by ongoing conflicts between farmers and herders can be transformed into development 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,” he said.
He further stressed the need to prepare for Nigeria’s projected population of 400 million by 2050 through strategic investments.
“Demography is one of the key pillars of our foreign policy. Nigeria’s population is expected to hit 400 million by 2050.
“We must manage that growth through targeted investments in agriculture, education, healthcare, and employment,” Tinubu said.
The President welcomed more foreign investment aligned with the administration’s macroeconomic reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda and commended Danish firms like A.P. Moller–Maersk and Grundfos for their ongoing contributions to Nigeria’s agricultural and maritime infrastructure.
The President also praised Denmark’s support for internally displaced persons in conflict-affected regions and expressed optimism for continued collaboration, especially as Denmark prepares to chair the European Union Council and serve on the UN Security Council from 2025 to 2026.
On the social front, Tinubu highlighted joint initiatives with the Danish royal guest, including school feeding and reducing out-of-school children.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, emphasised the importance of educational reform, particularly in traditional Islamic schooling.
“We must find ways to formally recognise the knowledge traditional Islamic schools offer and bring them into our wider educational structure,” the First Lady said.
In response, Queen Mary expressed gratitude for the reception and solidarity with Nigeria over the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast.
“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,” Queen Mary said.
She also commended the First Lady for her Renewed Hope Initiative and revealed plans to visit the A.P. Moller–Maersk terminal in Lagos as part of her itinerary.
