President Bola Tinubu formally introduced on Monday the institution of diplomatic relations with Saint Lucia, describing it as a “symbolic bridge that can present a gateway in fostering nearer ties between us.”
President Tinubu acknowledged this whereas addressing a particular joint session of the Senate and Home of Meeting of Saint Lucia on the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia.
The President proposed making a Joint Fee or Political Session Settlement as a mechanism for structured cooperation between Nigeria and the Organisation of Jap Caribbean States (OECS).
President Tinubu additionally introduced that he would supply full scholarships to college students of OECS to advertise cultural understanding that additional strengthens the bond between Nigeria and the Jap Caribbean states.
The Nigerian chief, who delivered his handle within the presence of leaders from the OECS, emphasised the deep historic and cultural bonds between Nigeria and the OECS, and known as for higher people-to-people engagement.
The leaders of Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, the Premier of Montserrat, Saint Martin and Saint Vincent had been within the viewers.
President Tinubu declared Nigeria’s openness to visa waivers for OECS diplomatic and official passport holders, and urged reciprocal gestures to facilitate smoother official journey and nearer institutional cooperation.
”I respectfully urge a reciprocal gesture to allow smoother motion of officers and foster nearer institutional cooperation,” he stated.
President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to deepening ties with OECS and Caribbean nations, anchored in shared African heritage and Pan-African beliefs.
”As one who feels a profound kinship with our shared African heritage, I’m totally conscious of the historic currents which have sure us collectively, currents formed by the transatlantic slave commerce and colonial subjugation, however out of which emerged a shared cultural id, an indomitable resilience and a legacy of aspiration.
”My presence right here immediately symbolises Nigeria’s renewed dedication to re-engage with these enduring ties, recognising their strategic and emotional significance.
“This event serves as a testomony to the enduring beliefs of Pan-Africanism and the unyielding want for unity and collaboration amongst peoples of African descent.
”It’s on this context that I reaffirm OECS as a cherished associate of Nigeria. We stay dedicated to strengthening and increasing the enduring bonds of friendship that unite our areas,” he stated.
On financial diplomacy and commerce, President Tinubu provided OECS entry to Africa’s largest market and known as for joint ventures and deeper business ties.
He advocated enhanced commerce and funding partnerships, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, and companies, that may place Nigeria as a provider and vacation spot for OECS exports.
”After I assumed the Workplace of the President of Nigeria in Might 2023, my Administration launched into a sequence of financial, political and social reforms which had been aimed toward laying a stable basis for the promotion of a greater Nigeria and to place the nation on the trail of sustainable progress and growth.
”It’s according to this orientation and to discover areas of cooperation and collaboration between the East Caribbean States, that I made a decision to undertake this State Go to to Saint Lucia.
”On this spirit, I want to specific Nigeria’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the OECS in mutual curiosity, together with commerce, funding, well being, tradition, schooling, and local weather resilience.
Learn additionally: 34% of enslaved people in Saint Lucia were from Nigeria – Alvina Reynolds
“Nigeria’s huge pure sources and place as the biggest market in Africa current important alternatives for the OECS, each as a supply of important inputs and a rising export vacation spot.
”Collectively, we will leverage our respective strengths to draw funding, create jobs, and foster joint ventures that profit each our peoples,” he stated.
President Tinubu proposed a maritime college collaboration and lengthening Nigeria’s Technical Help Corps (TAC) programme to OECS nations.
He emphasised Nigeria’s readiness to supply expert schooling, healthcare, and engineering professionals to help regional capacity-building.
“I strongly advocate for instructional alternate programmes between Nigerian and OECS maritime universities. Such partnerships will construct technical capability and foster mutual understanding and long-term educational collaboration.
“Past maritime schooling, each areas ought to discover joint scientific analysis initiatives, notably addressing frequent well being challenges. To construction these efforts, we should always formalise agreements that clearly outline key areas of cooperation in schooling and analysis,” he stated.
Recognising the existential local weather threats going through small island states, President Tinubu known as for joint analysis on adaptation methods, sustainable agriculture, catastrophe preparedness, and climate-induced migration.
“By sharing analysis findings on local weather impacts, adaptation methods, and catastrophe threat administration—together with an increase in sea stage and outbreak of hurricanes—we will deepen our understanding and improve our collective resilience,” he stated
Reiterating Nigeria’s Afrocentric overseas coverage, President Tinubu emphasised the cultural and historic ties between Nigeria and the diaspora and its enduring position in international Black solidarity.
”Nigeria, as essentially the most populous nation on the African continent and the foremost Black nation globally, has lengthy stood on the vanguard of advocacy for the dignity and development of Black individuals worldwide.
”This was evident from its robust opposition to colonialism and racial injustice, to its management within the Pan-African motion.
”Our overseas coverage stays unapologetically Afrocentric. Notably, Nigeria performed an instrumental position in establishing the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, which has since embraced the Caribbean and the broader diaspora as its sixth area,” he stated.
”Apart its demographic and financial prominence in Africa, Nigeria has a wealthy historical past of putting up with contributions to the development of the Black race.
”It’s house to the biggest diaspora group of African descent and located in West Africa, from whence numerous enslaved Africans had been tragically taken.
”My nation holds a particular place within the collective reminiscence of the diaspora.
”Culturally, Nigeria is thought to be the continent’s inventive coronary heart, with its wealthy array of ethnicities and globally celebrated traditions in music, delicacies, style, movie (notably Nollywood) and literature,” he instructed the viewers of over 300 individuals on the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, which included OECS Heads of Authorities, senior authorities officers, members of the diplomatic corps, and the Nigerian group in Saint Lucia.
Whereas calling for unity, President Tinubu quoted Marcus Garvey and an African proverb.
“As we chart the course ahead, I’m reminded of the phrases of Marcus Garvey: ‘Get organised and you’ll compel the world to respect you.’ His cost stays as resonant now because it was first made.”
“Likewise, an African proverb teaches us: ‘If you wish to go quick, go alone. If you wish to go far, go collectively.’ Allow us to journey collectively, united in objective and fortified by our frequent heritage,” he stated.
