President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria declared the establishment of diplomatic relations with Saint Lucia on Monday, hailing it as a ‘symbolic bridge’ designed to foster closer ties between the two nations.
The announcement came during Tinubu’s address to a special joint session of the Senate and House of Assembly of Saint Lucia at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet.
To facilitate structured cooperation, President Tinubu proposed the creation of a Joint Commission or Political Consultation Agreement between Nigeria and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
He also announced full scholarships for OECS students, aimed at promoting cultural understanding and strengthening bonds with Eastern Caribbean states.
Addressing an audience that included leaders from Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, the Premier of Montserrat, Saint Martin, and Saint Vincent, the Nigerian leader emphasised the deep historical and cultural connections between Nigeria and the OECS, advocating for increased people-to-people engagement.
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A key proposal from Tinubu was Nigeria’s willingness to grant visa waivers for OECS diplomatic and official passport holders.
He urged reciprocal gestures to ensure smoother official travel and enhanced institutional cooperation.
President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening ties with OECS and other Caribbean nations, rooted in their shared African heritage and Pan-African ideals.
He acknowledged the historical currents shaped by the transatlantic slave trade and colonial subjugation, which, despite their harshness, gave rise to a shared cultural identity, resilience, and aspiration.
“My presence here today symbolises Nigeria’s renewed commitment to re-engage with these enduring ties, recognising their strategic and emotional significance,” he stated, noting that the occasion attests to Pan-Africanism’s ideals and the desire for unity among people of African descent.
On economic diplomacy and trade, Tinubu offered OECS access to Africa’s largest market, advocating for joint ventures and stronger commercial ties.
He encouraged enhanced trade and investment partnerships, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, and services, positioning Nigeria as both a supplier and a destination for OECS exports.
He noted that his administration’s economic reforms, initiated in May 2023, aim to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria’s sustainable growth.
The President proposed collaboration on maritime university education and extending Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (TAC) program to OECS countries.
He expressed Nigeria’s readiness to provide skilled professionals in education, healthcare, and engineering to support regional capacity-building.
Tinubu also advocated for joint scientific research initiatives, especially concerning common health challenges, and called for formal agreements to define cooperation in education and research.
Recognising the existential climate threats faced by small island states, President Tinubu urged joint research on adaptation strategies, sustainable agriculture, disaster preparedness, and climate-induced migration.
He stressed that sharing research findings on climate impacts, including rising sea levels and hurricanes, would deepen understanding and enhance collective resilience.
Reiterating Nigeria’s Afrocentric foreign policy, President Tinubu highlighted the cultural and historical ties between Nigeria and the diaspora, emphasising its enduring role in global Black solidarity.
He underscored Nigeria’s historical leadership in advocating for the dignity and advancement of Black people worldwide, from opposing colonialism to its pivotal role in establishing the African Union, which now includes the Caribbean and broader diaspora as its ‘sixth region.’
He noted Nigeria’s demographic and economic prominence in Africa, its cultural vibrancy, and its significance as home to the largest diaspora community of African descent.
Calling for unity, Tinubu quoted Marcus Garvey: “Get organised and you will compel the world to respect you.”
He also cited an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” urging a collective journey ‘united in purpose and fortified by our common heritage.’
The address was delivered to an audience of over 300, including OECS Heads of Government, senior officials, diplomatic corps members, and the Nigerian community in Saint Lucia.
