‎By Muhyideen Jimoh

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‎The Presidency, says President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Saint Lucia is a strategic engagement that will deepen educational and cultural cooperation with not just the island nation, but the Caribbean.

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‎This is contained in a statement  by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday.

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‎Onanuga said the visit will rekindle Nigeria’s ancestral and strategic economic ties with the Caribbean nation and the wider CARICOM bloc.

‎“In the wake of some Nigerians’ misguided, mischievous, and uninformed comments regarding President  Tinubu’s historic state visit to Saint Lucia, it is necessary to clarify the purpose.

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‎“First, from the perspective of the Government of Saint Lucia, the visit by the Nigerian leader paves the way for  rekindling of  ancestral bonds, igniting a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic possibilities between our nations,” Onanuga stated.

‎He stated that  the President’s historic visit aligned with Nigeria’s “Four D’s” foreign policy: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography—key pillars of  the country’s global engagement.

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‎Onanuga  noted that Saint Lucia, with deep African roots and a significant Nigerian-descended population, views the visit as a homecoming of sorts.

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‎It would be recalled that in the 19th century, Nigerian immigrants brought enduring cultural and religious traditions to the island, a legacy still felt today.

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‎Onanuga said  the visit underscored Nigeria’s rising soft power, driven by Afrobeats, Nollywood, and a literary heritage that resonated across the Caribbean.

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‎He noted that Saint Lucia, home to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), is a gateway to the 15-member CARICOM bloc with a 130 billion dollars GDP.

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‎He said that President Tinubu’s presence signalled Nigeria’s interest in expanding South-South trade and strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with the Caribbean.

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‎”Nigeria and Saint Lucia already share remarkable historical links, such as Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian, who served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from

‎1975 to 1979,” he stated.

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‎The presidency also highlighted  contributions of other Saint Lucians, including Neville Skeete, who helped design the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters, and Sir Darnley’s son Michael, a frontline medical officer during the Nigerian civil war.

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‎Onanuga said that Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps, part of Tinubu’s delegation, will support development efforts by deploying professionals to key sectors in Saint Lucia.

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‎The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls  that Saint Lucia, which gained independence in 1979, had hosted fewer than 10 official state visits.

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‎The last African leader to visit was President Nelson Mandela, who attended the 1998 CARICOM Heads of Government Summit.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma