The head of the Diana Award, Tessy Ojo, attended a state banquet in honor of Nigeria's president and first lady visiting the U.K.
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NEED TO KNOW
- King Charles praised the head of the charity that bears the name of his late wife, Princess Diana, at the Nigerian state banquet
- Tessy Ojo, the CEO of the Diana Award, was at the dinner held in honor of the Nigerian president’s trip to the U.K.
- Ojo was also able to catch up with Prince William, who supports the work of the charity along with his brother, Prince Harry
King Charles praised the head of the charity that bears the name of his late ex-wife, Princess Diana, for her leadership on behalf of young people.
Tessy Ojo, who is the CEO of the Diana Award, was among the guests at the magnificent state banquet that the British royal family hosted for the visiting Nigerian president on Wednesday, March 18.
Shortly after arriving at Windsor Castle, Ojo was surprised to be asked to join the meet and greet with the King, 77, and President Bola Tinubu before the dinner in St. George’s Hall. During the conversation, Ojo tells PEOPLE, the monarch asked if she was still working at the Diana Award.
“I said yes. And he said, ‘You’re doing a great job. Thank you,' " Ojo tells PEOPLE. "I thought, 'Oh my gosh, he knew that I was at the Diana Award.' It was really, really special.”
“That was deeply wonderful and unexpected given the number of people in that room," she adds. "To be selected. It was beautiful.”
Credit: Henry Nicholls – WPA Pool/Getty
Ojo, who was born and raised in Britain by her Nigerian parents, was also introduced to President Tinubu.
“He said, ‘Thank you for doing us proud,’ ” she recalls to PEOPLE, before adding, “I was caught between feeling incredibly proud to be British and seeing all the Britishness, but also thinking I am here because I am also Nigerian.”
The meeting and the response from the president of Nigeria “set off the evening for me in a way that was really special. From that moment, I began to own both things. I am the two.”
Since 2012, Ojo has led the Diana Award, the only charity to carry the name of the late Princess and the only one supported by both of her sons, Prince William, 43, and Prince Harry, 41. The charity rewards young people around the world who help their communities and encourages young people to take on leadership positions in society.
Before the dinner, which was also attended by William and his wife Kate Middleton, both King Charles and the Nigerian president made speeches.
The King's speech referenced "the things that we share and the money that the Nigerian diaspora spends in both countries," Ojo recalls. It was "funny and witty in the right places," she adds, referring to his lighthearted reference to regional debate over who makes the best jollof rice: Nigeria or Ghana.
"It was so unexpected and ridiculously hilarious. It was like the sort of thing you hear on the street," she adds.
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In the more relaxed post-dinner reception that followed the sit-down banquet, Ojo was approached by William, with whom she had worked on initiatives for the Diana Award.
“He said, ‘I did wonder if you were here!’' Ojo shares. "I was going to curtsy and do the formal thing, but he gave me a hug. That was very special.”
As the dinner wound down and guests moved to the Waterloo Chamber for drinks, she also said a brief hello to Princess Kate, who reflected their guests’ national color with her stunning green Andrew Gn dress.
“That was a lovely nod to Nigeria," Ojo says. "They got everything right."
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“The room was beautiful, it was perfection," she adds. "The pipers were so beautiful. That was when you think, ‘We do put a good show on.’ This was British excellence in its highest form.”
Ojo was seated next to Charles' younger brother Prince Edward. Edward has followed his late father, Prince Philip, as patron of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which honors teens for their contribution and leadership.
“We chatted about the challenges that young people face and how important the family setup is," she recalls. "We spoke about the deficits that some young people face today in terms of social and emotional skills, and if we want to give young people the best start in life, we have to do a lot more from a family setup point of view.”
Credit: Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty
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State banquets are not only an opportunity to cement the relationship between the heads of state of two countries, but are also an important part of networking and bridge-building between business, social and political representatives and organizations.
"I have pride in my home and being British, and I also have pride in being Nigerian. Those two things can coexist without minimizing either," Ojo says. "That is something we have to constantly have to reinforce, especially in this society with those people who have multiple heritages. They are not competing.”
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