‘Nigerian jollof best, Naija no dey carry last’, says King Charles

2026-03-19 - 09:03

King Charles III has declared that Nigerian jollof rice is the best in Africa while hosting a state banquet in honour of President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu. The British monarch made the remark during his speech at the banquet which formed part of the high-level engagements lined up for the president’s historic two-day visit, the first by a Nigerian leader in nearly four decades. He said, “I have met so many of these quiet heroes in our schools, businesses, National Health Service and universities, including countless young people who have flourished through the work of my King’s Trust over the last fifty years. “Only last week, I was delighted to host a rather lively group of them for a ‘Jollof and Tea’ party at St. James’s Palace. I was firmly assured that the jollof was only the best: Nigerian, of course... or perhaps Ghanaian or Senegalese. Diplomatically, I cannot remember!” King Charles also commended Nigerians living in the UK for their contributions across various sectors, noting their impact in business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature and the arts, describing them as “quiet heroes” making meaningful contributions to British society. “We in the United Kingdom are blessed that so many people of Nigerian heritage, having chosen Britain as their home, are now at the heart of British life through excelling at the highest levels of business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature, and the arts,” he said. He also highlighted the impact of Nigerian culture in Britain, from Afrobeats filling concert halls and Nollywood on screens to Nigerians excelling in the Premier League and the legal profession. “From Afrobeats filling our concert halls and Nollywood captivating our screens, to stars competing in our Premier League and adjudicating our highest courts, so much of Britain’s culture is, in truth, profoundly enriched by Nigeria. In a rare gesture, King Charles also greeted Tinubu and members of the Nigerian delegation in Yoruba. “Ẹ káàbọ̀, ṣé dáadáa ni?” he said, meaning “Welcome, how are you?” The monarch extended goodwill to Muslims in both countries, saying, “I can only wish you and the millions of Muslims in our countries Eid Mubarak. Let me propose a toast to the president and people of Nigeria. Naija no dey carry last.”