Why Tinubu travelled to Saint Lucia — Preaidency
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has noted that President Bola Tinubu arrived in Saint Lucia on Saturday, June 28, for a landmark state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties between Nigeria and the Caribbean nation.
The visit marks the first by a Nigerian head of state to Saint Lucia since independence and follows the last African leader visit by Nelson Mandela in 1998, underscoring its historic significance.
Upon arrival at Hewanorra International Airport, Tinubu was received with full military honours by Governor-General Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.
The President’s itinerary includes courtesy calls, a special address to a joint session of Saint Lucia’s Senate and House of Assembly at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, and a high-level working luncheon with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) leaders.
Onanuga, underscored the alignment of the visit with Nigeria’s Four D’s foreign policy—Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography—and the African Union’s Sixth Region agenda, which recognises the African diaspora as a vital partner in Africa’s development.
Highlighting Nigeria’s cultural influence, Saint Lucia’s popular Gros Islet Street Party recently featured Afrobeats, showcasing Nigeria’s growing soft power. The President’s visit also includes engagement with the Nigerian community in Saint Lucia, fostering people-to-people ties.
In his address to the Parliament, Tinubu is expected to highlight shared democratic values and the economic potential of Nigeria’s youthful population, projected to be the world’s third largest by 2050.
The statement notes, “As the presidency stated, the visit supports the African Union’s Sixth Region agenda, which identifies the African diaspora as a key development partner.
“Nigeria actively fosters cultural exchange through collaboration in education, culture, and heritage preservation. Our cultural exports, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, and literature, are already making a significant impact on Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean, enriching our shared cultural landscape.
“The Gros Islet Street Party is arguably one of Saint Lucia’s most famous cultural events. It has been held every Friday for over 50 years.
“On the Friday before President Tinubu’s arrival, Afrobeats and Nigerian music dominated the airwaves, a testament to Nigeria’s growing soft power and cultural footprint.
“Democracy as a Shared Value: Saint Lucia is a stable parliamentary democracy, making it a natural ally for Nigeria, which has enjoyed 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.
“During the live coverage of President Tinubu’s arrival and welcoming ceremonies at the Hewanorra International Airport on the National Television Network (NTN), a local commentator described President Tinubu as a “fighter for democracy”, citing his well-known pro-democracy record.
“Demography as a Strategic Asset: Nigeria is projected to become the third most populous country in the world by 2050. President Tinubu has consistently emphasised that Nigeria’s youthful population is a driver of economic transformation via education, industrialisation, and innovation.”
“The visit also includes a stop at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College to boost educational partnerships and the deployment of Nigerian Technical Aid Corps personnel to support local development.
“President Tinubu’s scheduled visit to Sir Arthur Lewis Community College underscores our commitment to strengthening educational partnerships. The presence of Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC) officials in the delegation further demonstrates our dedication to fostering knowledge exchange and growth. TAC provides technical assistance to African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. This assistance is delivered through the deployment of Nigerian professionals to recipient countries to address specific needs.
“Engagement with the Nigerian Community in Saint Lucia: The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia will host a reception at the official residence, where members of the Nigerian community will meet with President Tinubu and his delegation. This event is a unique opportunity for the Nigerian community to interact with their President and discuss matters of mutual interest, further strengthening the ties between the two nations.
“A Rare and Historic State Visit: Since gaining independence in 1979, Saint Lucia has hosted fewer than 10 official state visits. The last visit by an African Head of State was by President Nelson Mandela in July 1998, during the 19th CARICOM Heads of Government Summit. Therefore, President Tinubu’s 2025 visit, 27 years later, is a historic diplomatic milestone.
“President Tinubu’s address at a special joint session of the Parliament: President Tinubu will address a special joint session of Saint Lucia’s bi-cameral Parliament at the Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Conference Hall, named after former U.S. President Bill Clinton. President Clinton visited Saint Lucia in January 2003 and gave a keynote address at this same venue, which was later renamed in his honour,” Onanuga said.
