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.”
