President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Abuja on Saturday for official visits to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean and Brazil in South America, as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic relations with countries in the Global South.
The trip was confirmed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. According to the statement, the visits aim to strengthen ties in areas such as infrastructure, education, youth development, and cultural exchange.
In Saint Lucia, President Tinubu will meet with top government officials, including Governor-General Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles and Prime Minister Philip Pierre. A major highlight of the visit will be Tinubu’s address to a special joint session of the Saint Lucian Senate and House of Assembly, scheduled to hold at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet.
The president will also host a luncheon with leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to explore new opportunities for cooperation. He is also expected to visit the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in Castries to promote educational partnerships between Nigeria and Caribbean institutions.
The presidency noted that the visit is part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to engage with the African diaspora under the African Union’s Sixth Region framework, which recognises people of African descent outside the continent as vital development partners.
After his Saint Lucia visit, President Tinubu will travel to Brazil to attend the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro from July 6 to 7. He will participate as a representative of a “partner country”—a status higher than a guest nation but not full membership. African members of BRICS include South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
The summit will focus on “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” Senior Nigerian government officials are accompanying the president on both visits.
