Ahead of the inauguration of President-elect, Bola Tinubu, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has met with the Nigerian leader in an exclusive meeting held at the Defence House earlier today.

The meeting brought together influential figures, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Vice-President-elect, Kashim Shettima.

The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss areas of common interest and explore opportunities for Nigeria to benefit from the expertise and experiences of the Tony Blair Institute for Good Governance.

As the founder of the institute, Tony Blair has been actively engaged in promoting good governance and development across the globe.

In a statement provided by Tony Blair’s spokesperson, Matthew Miller, it was highlighted that the meeting emphasized the importance of the longstanding U.S-Nigeria partnership.

Blair emphasized that this partnership, built on shared interests and robust people-to-people connections, should be further strengthened under President-elect Tinubu’s leadership.

The discussion between Tony Blair and President-elect Tinubu covered a wide range of topics, including governance, economic development, security, and social reforms.

Both leaders expressed their commitment to advancing these areas in Nigeria, with Blair offering insights and recommendations based on his vast experience.

This meeting comes at a crucial time as President-elect Tinubu prepares to assume office on May 29.

Earlier, U.S President Joe Biden announced a nine-member delegation that will attend Tinubu’s swearing-in ceremony, signifying the significance of the U.S-Nigeria relationship.

The delegation will be led by Marcia L. Fudge, Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The presence of such a high-level delegation from the United States further underscores the importance of the inauguration and signals the willingness of the U.S government to strengthen ties with Nigeria under its new leadership. It is expected that the delegation will participate in various bilateral meetings and engagements aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries.

As President-elect Tinubu prepares to take office, the meeting with Tony Blair and the upcoming U.S delegation highlight the international support and interest in Nigeria’s future trajectory. With a focus on good governance and development, Nigeria under Tinubu’s leadership aims to address key challenges and harness opportunities for the country’s progress.