President Bola Tinubu has departed Saint Lucia after a four-day state visit en route to Brazil, where he will attend the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

The president is expected to participate in the high-level meeting as a representative of Nigeria, which has now been accorded the status of a “partner country” within the BRICS framework—an elevation from its previous ‘guest status’.

President Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia marked a significant chapter in Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with the Caribbean, yielding multiple milestones that underscored a renewed push for South-South cooperation, ancestral reconnection, and economic diplomacy.

At the heart of his Saint Lucian engagement was the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Caribbean island nation—a first in bilateral ties that opens up new frontiers for collaboration in trade, investment, education, tourism, and culture.

During the visit, President Tinubu held high-level discussions with Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, and Governor-General, Cyril Errol Charles.

The leaders exchanged views on issues ranging from climate change and disaster resilience to education, technical cooperation, and the shared heritage between Africa and the Caribbean.

In a symbolic and widely applauded move, President Tinubu addressed a special joint sitting of the Saint Lucian Parliament, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to deepening ties with the African diaspora and promoting unity among nations with shared histories and futures.

The session was attended by top government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

As part of efforts to foster educational and youth development cooperation, the Nigerian President visited the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, where he interacted with students and faculty.

He announced a cultural exchange programme and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to offering scholarships and technical assistance to OECS students.

One of the most notable outcomes of the visit was the signing of a Technical Manpower Assistance agreement, which will see Nigeria deploy skilled professionals—including teachers, doctors, and engineers—to Saint Lucia and other OECS member states. The initiative is expected to strengthen institutional capacity and human capital development in the region.

Capping the series of engagements, President Tinubu was conferred with Saint Lucia’s highest national honour—the Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL)—in recognition of his efforts to forge stronger Afro-Caribbean ties and promote global Black solidarity.

As he heads to Brazil for the BRICS Summit, President Tinubu is expected to advance Nigeria’s interests in global trade, sustainable development, and financial inclusion.

The summit brings together major emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—and selected partner countries to discuss global challenges and economic cooperation.

The Nigerian Presidency described the twin engagements in Saint Lucia and Brazil as “strategic diplomacy in action,” noting that President Tinubu’s leadership is positioning Nigeria as a key voice in the Global South.

The 17th BRICS Summit will be held from July 5–7 in Rio de Janeiro, with the theme “Building a Fairer World Order through Sustainable Partnerships.”