Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom have begun mobilising to receive President Bola Tinubu as he prepares for an official state visit later this month.
The UK’s monarch, King Charles III, alongside Queen Camilla, recently extended an invitation to Tinubu for a state visit scheduled for March 18 and 19. The President will be accompanied by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Timileyin Ayenuro, Convener of Nigerian Youth in the UK, disclosed the mobilisation plans in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Speaking during a meeting in Birmingham on March 1, Ayenuro urged Nigerians across the UK to turn out in large numbers to welcome the President, describing the visit as historic.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to national development and called on members of the diaspora to remain optimistic about Nigeria’s future. According to him, sustainable progress requires patience and collective support.
“Rome was not built in a day. Nigerians in the UK should continue supporting the administration’s efforts to reposition the country. The President has taken decisive steps to address security challenges, and strategic measures are already yielding positive results in various parts of the nation,” Ayenuro said.
Also speaking, Emmanuel Akeredolu, Coordinator of Ondo Collectives UK, noted that Nigeria has experienced notable development since the return to democratic rule in 1999. Reflecting on a recent trip home, he commended improvements in airport operations, particularly the seamless check-in and check-out process enabled by the e-gate system.
He praised the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for reforms introduced within their respective ministries.
Representing Nigerian women in the UK, Mrs. Folasade Uangbaoje expressed appreciation to the Nigerian High Commission for strengthening ties with the Nigerian community and improving access to consular services. She said the reforms have reduced the need for Nigerians to travel back home for essential documentation.
Uangbaoje also commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for its swift response to concerns raised by Nigerians abroad and its continued engagement with the diaspora community.
The meeting ended with a collective call for Nigerians across the UK to mobilise and give President Tinubu and the First Lady a warm reception during the state visit.
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