Tinubu Departs Nigeria on Two-Nation Visit to Saint Lucia and Brazil
By Baba Dan’iya
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Saturday, June 28, embark on a state visit to Saint Lucia and later proceed to Brazil to participate in the 17th BRICS Summit, the Presidency announced on Friday.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, made this known in a statement released in Abuja.
Onanuga stated that the President’s first port of call will be Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, where he is expected to deepen Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement and foster South-South cooperation with Caribbean nations.
During his visit to the island nation, President Tinubu will hold high-level engagements with top government officials, including courtesy visits to the Governor-General of Saint Lucia, His Excellency Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles, and Prime Minister Philip Pierre.
A major highlight of the visit will be the President’s address to a special joint session of the Saint Lucian Parliament at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet.
Also expected at the parliamentary session are the Heads of Government of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, the Nigerian community in Saint Lucia, and the Director-General of OECS, Dr Didacus Jules.
Following the joint parliamentary session, President Tinubu will attend a high-level working luncheon with OECS leaders, during which discussions will centre on strengthening economic cooperation and cultural solidarity between Nigeria and the Caribbean bloc.
On the sidelines of the visit, the Nigerian leader will also visit the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in Castries, Saint Lucia’s capital, to promote academic exchange and educational collaboration.
Onanuga noted that the visit underscores Nigeria’s commitment to forging stronger diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties with the Caribbean within the framework of the African Union’s Sixth Region, which recognises the African diaspora as a vital partner in Africa’s development.
“Nigeria and Saint Lucia share historical and cultural affinities, including membership in the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations, and a common heritage rooted in African ancestry,” he said.
The visit is expected to open new vistas of cooperation in education, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and diplomatic exchange.
After concluding his engagements in Saint Lucia, President Tinubu will proceed to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 17th BRICS Summit scheduled for July 6–7.
The President will be attending the summit at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, marking Nigeria’s upgraded designation as a ‘Partner Country’—a status above that of a guest nation but below full BRICS membership.
Other African countries currently holding full BRICS membership include South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
The 2025 BRICS Summit will be held under the theme: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”
Key discussions at the summit will centre on two core areas: enhancing cooperation among Global South nations and forging stronger BRICS partnerships for social, economic, and environmental development.
President Tinubu will be accompanied on the trip by senior government officials.
