GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia President Bola Tinubu has announced a new scholarship scheme that will enable students from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to study at Nigerian universities beginning from the next academic year.
The announcement was made on Monday, June 30, 2025, during a joint press conference in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, with Prime Minister Philip Pierre, following high-level bilateral talks between Nigeria and OECS member states.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States is very close to us in Africa. We are moving forward to facilitate business and education opportunities, capacity building, and explore other areas such as agriculture and food security. We wont drop the ball, President Tinubu said.
The scholarship initiative, according to Tinubu, will be coordinated through a joint committee comprising officials from Nigeria and OECS countries.
It forms part of a broader framework to deepen collaboration in areas including education, trade, agriculture, and development.
Prime Minister Pierre hailed the initiative as a timely and practical expression of solidarity, underscoring its potential to enhance people-to-people connections and long-term regional cooperation.
We expect students to begin their studies in Nigeria in the next academic year. We have formed a joint committee to address education, trade, and travel issues, and the people-to-people exchange will be key, Pierre stated.
President Tinubu also revealed that discussions were underway to introduce visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and official passports from OECS countries.
The move, he said, is part of efforts to streamline mobility and strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the West African country and the Caribbean bloc.
I dont look at difficulties. I look at problem-solving. If we move on a straight line, we get our goal achieved, and there will be no problems, Tinubu said, responding to questions about existing hurdles in bilateral cooperation.
Prime Minister Pierre added that visa facilitation, air connectivity, and tourism promotion were central themes during their engagement with the Nigerian delegation.
Earlier in the day, President Tinubu addressed a special joint sitting of the Parliament of Saint Lucia.
In his speech, he articulated a vision for renewed Africa-Caribbean relations, placing emphasis on education, cultural exchange, and economic partnerships.
His visit, which marks a milestone in Nigerias foreign policy outreach to the Caribbean, is part of a wider initiative to deepen engagement with African-descended nations through targeted diplomacy and strategic cooperation.
Observers say the scholarship programme is expected to benefit hundreds of students across OECS countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
