Tinubu, Queen Mary Discuss Boosting Cooperation in Agriculture, Education, and Development

Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark made her first official visit to Nigeria as the Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday when she was hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Queen Mary’s visit, which she welcomed with Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was centered on enhancing bilateral ties and investigating prospects in economic cooperation, education, and sustainable development.

President Tinubu highlighted the significance of growing Nigeria’s dairy and livestock industry during the conference, characterizing it as a vital sector for food security, rural development, and job creation. He said that Nigeria is willing to work with Denmark in fields including veterinary medicine, information transfer, and contemporary agriculture methods.

According to Tinubu, Nigeria’s expanding population offers both benefits and challenges. “We can turn farmer-herder conflicts into organized economic opportunities and empower communities with the right investment in livestock and education.”

The president stated that his Renewed Hope Agenda and foreign policy direction continue to place a high priority on population management. By 2050, Nigeria is expected to have 400 million people living there, therefore he emphasized the importance of making smart investments in jobs, healthcare, education, and agriculture.

In addition, President Tinubu praised Denmark’s ongoing humanitarian assistance to displaced people in areas impacted by violence and the contributions made by Danish corporations such as Grundfos and A.P. Moller–Maersk to Nigeria’s economic and infrastructure development.

Regarding social development, he praised Queen Mary and Nigeria’s First Lady’s increasing cooperation, particularly on projects like school feeding programs and attempts to lower the number of children who are not in school. Senator Oluremi Tinubu also emphasized how traditional Islamic institutions are continuously changing to meet formal education requirements.

In her speech, Queen Mary thanked everyone for the cordial welcome and offered her condolences for the situation in northeastern Nigeria. Through investments in the green economy, women’s economic empowerment, child health, and cultural interaction, she underlined Denmark’s commitment to fortifying ties with Nigeria.

During her tour, the Queen also announced intentions to visit the A.P. Moller–Maersk terminal in Lagos and praised the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative.

The trip strengthens Nigeria’s long-standing alliance with Denmark, which is based on the mutual objectives of inclusive growth, humanitarian assistance, and sustainable development.