President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seated with host Prime Minister, Hon. Philip J. Pierre, other Heads of Government and heads of delegation of several OECS Member States and OECS Director General, H.E. Dr. Didacus Jules, and Heads of State of several OECS Member States.

Nigeria and OECS Strengthen Ties During Presidential Visit to Saint Lucia

OECS Media Release

July 8, 2025

The Government of Saint Lucia and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) warmly welcomed His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for an official visit from June 30 to July 2, 2025. The historic visit marks a significant step in strengthening diplomatic, cultural, and development cooperation between Nigeria and the Eastern Caribbean.

During his visit, President Tinubu met with the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Honourable Philip J. Pierre; Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Barbuda Affairs; Dominica’s Prime Minister, Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit; Grenada’s Prime Minister, Honourable Dickon Mitchell; Montserrat’s Premier, Honourable Reuben Meade; St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, Honourable Terrance Drew; the 2nd Vice-President in charge of the Economic Affairs Commission and Sustainable Development/Living Conditions for the Territorial Council of Saint Martin, Madame Bernadette Davis; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, and Information Technology, Honourable Camillo Gonsalves; OECS Director General, H.E. Dr. Didacus Jules; and several other OECS Government officials.

The meetings reaffirmed shared commitments between Nigeria and OECS Member States to deepen ties through trade, education, climate resilience, tourism, and people-to-people connections.

A high-level bilateral meeting held on Monday, June 30, at Sandals Grande Saint Lucia concluded with the announcement of the formation of a Nigeria-OECS Joint Committee. The committee will address pressing priorities, including:

Education – with an immediate plan to facilitate tuition-free scholarships for OECS students to study in Nigeria as early as the next academic year.
Air Travel – exploring direct links between West Africa and the Caribbean.
Trade and Tourism – identifying opportunities for increased bilateral investment and cultural exchange.

At the press briefing following the bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Pierre noted:

“We share a common history, identity, and culture. Today, we committed to turning these shared bonds into concrete results. The joint committee will move quickly on visa facilitation, scholarships, and other ‘low-hanging fruits’ for the benefit of our people.”

President Tinubu underscored Nigeria’s readiness to deliver immediate outcomes, describing the meeting as a new chapter in Afro-Caribbean cooperation:

“We don’t have to look far for solutions. We will work on a straight line toward our goals. Education, trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges will be our starting points.”

On Tuesday, July 1, President Tinubu visited the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), engaging with the faculty, students, and government officials, including Saint Lucia’s Minister of Education, Hon. Shawn Edward, in an event that celebrated the deep cultural and historical ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

He was welcomed with performances of the national anthems of Nigeria and Saint Lucia, spoken word poetry, and excerpts from local theatre, underscoring the vibrancy of Saint Lucian cultural life.

SALCC’s Board Chair, Mr. Cletus Springer, and Principal Dr. Marjorie James Charles highlighted the College’s commitment to regional development and its symbolic role as a bridge between continents. They recalled Saint Lucia’s Nobel laureate Sir Arthur Lewis, after whom the college is named, whose economic thinking helped shape development planning across Africa, including Nigeria.

President Tinubu, in his address, emphasised the power of education to combat poverty and inequality:

“Education is the greatest instrument to fight poverty. It is your time, your commitment, your perseverance that will determine your success. Nigeria stands ready to partner with you to turn these opportunities into reality.”

During the visit, President Tinubu formally reiterated Nigeria’s offer of tuition-free scholarships for OECS students and encouraged the College to pursue institutional partnerships with Nigerian universities and polytechnics.

At the conclusion of the visit, the OECS Commission gifted President Tinubu with a locally commissioned painting by Saint Lucian artist Ken Lawrence, titled “Girl with Bird.” The artwork symbolises the shared heritage and aspirations of Africa and the Caribbean, and the enduring cultural connections between their peoples.

This visit builds on longstanding historical bonds and signals a renewed commitment to collaborative development between the Caribbean and the African continent. The Government of Saint Lucia and the OECS look forward to the early work of the newly formed Nigeria-OECS Joint Committee to advance these priorities for mutual benefit.