VIEUX FORT, Saint Lucia — President Bola Tinubu touched down in Saint Lucia on Saturday, June 28, 2025, launching a two-nation diplomatic tour aimed at deepening Nigeria’s strategic ties with the Caribbean and South America ahead of the upcoming 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Tinubu was received with full military honours at Hewanorra International Airport by Governor-General Cyril Charles and Prime Minister Philip Pierre, marking the beginning of a state visit that Saint Lucian officials say underscores a growing partnership between Nigeria and the Caribbean region.
The official programme begins Sunday, June 29, 2025, with courtesy calls on Saint Lucia’s top leadership.
On Monday, June 30, 2025, President Tinubu will address a special joint session of the Saint Lucian Senate and House of Assembly at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom in Sandals Grande, Gros Islet.
The event will be attended by regional leaders, including heads of government from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), senior diplomats, officials, and members of the Nigerian diaspora in Saint Lucia.
Also expected is Didacus Jules, Director-General of the OECS.
After Saint Lucia, Tinubu will travel to Brazil for the 17th BRICS Summit scheduled for July 6–7 in Rio de Janeiro, where he will participate as a partner country representative — a designation that elevates Nigeria’s presence without full membership.
The summit, hosted by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will bring together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, alongside newly admitted African members Egypt and Ethiopia.
The central theme is: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”
