President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for expanded cooperation between Nigeria and Denmark in the areas of livestock development, education, and agribusiness, as he hosted Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday.
Receiving the Danish monarch, who is visiting Nigeria for the first time in her role as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)—President Tinubu highlighted the potential of Nigeria’s dairy and livestock economy to generate employment, enhance food security, and reduce rural poverty.
Reiterating that the livestock sector holds promise despite the friction between farmers and herders, the President said, “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 meeting was co-hosted by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and formed part of a broader diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s development partnerships with Denmark, particularly in light of Queen Mary’s interest in green economy, women’s enterprise, child health, and educational exchange.
President Tinubu welcomed further Danish collaboration in areas such as veterinary health, sustainable agricultural practices, and knowledge transfer, and expressed optimism that such initiatives could help address security and development challenges, especially those linked to rural livelihoods.
He also acknowledged Danish contributions to Nigeria’s infrastructure and economy, noting the work of firms like A.P. Moller–Maersk and Grundfos, and thanked Denmark for its support to internally displaced persons (IDPs), especially in conflict-affected areas.
As Denmark assumes the Presidency of the European Union Council and takes up a seat on the UN Security Council (2025–2026), President Tinubu said Nigeria looked forward to deeper collaboration on global development issues.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, welcomed Queen Mary’s engagement on school feeding, support for out-of-school children, and proposed reforms to integrate traditional Islamic education into Nigeria’s formal education system.
In her remarks, Queen Mary expressed sympathy over the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s northeast and reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to partnership. She said her visit aimed to boost bilateral ties and explore investments in women-led businesses, the green economy, and cultural exchanges.
She is also scheduled to visit the A.P. Moller–Maersk terminal in Lagos as part of her business engagements.
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