TINUBU’S VISIT TO SAINT LUCIA SET TO REVIVE HISTORIC TIES, BOOSTS AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN COOPERATION

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Saint Lucia has been described by the Presidency as a milestone in rekindling ancestral, economic, and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the Caribbean. According to a statement by Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga, the visit is a strategic diplomatic engagement rooted in South-South cooperation and the deep historical connection between the two nations.
The visit, which comes 27 years after Nelson Mandela’s last state visit to Saint Lucia in 1998, highlights the shared cultural heritage of both countries, particularly as many Saint Lucians trace their ancestry to Nigeria through 19th-century migrations. “This trip is not a luxury; it is a necessity for reconnecting with our diaspora and expanding our global partnerships,” Onanuga stated.
During the visit, Tinubu will address a joint session of Saint Lucia’s bi-cameral Parliament and visit the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. He will also meet with members of the Nigerian diaspora and officials from the Technical Aid Corps, reinforcing people-to-people diplomacy.
The visit celebrates icons like the late Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1975 to 1979, and demonstrates Nigeria’s soft power, as evidenced by the popularity of Afrobeats at local events like the Gros Islet Street Party.
Tinubu’s engagement supports Nigeria’s “Four D’s” foreign policy agenda — Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography — and furthers the African Union’s Sixth Region initiative. The trip is expected to open new pathways in trade, education, and cultural exchange between Africa and the Caribbean.