Nigeria, May 24 -- When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu joined world leaders at the Vatican for the investiture of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, the moment carried weight far beyond ceremonial significance. As the first Nigerian Muslim head of state to attend a papal inauguration, President Tinubu's participation was a subtle yet powerful assertion of Nigeria's evolving approach to diplomacy - one that is rooted not only in economic or geopolitical interests, but increasingly in values, inclusion, and soft power.

Nigeria, one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world, is home to over 200 million people, with nearly half identifying as Christians. According to the Vatican News in 2025, Nigeria has one of the highest Catholic popula...