There is more at stake than ceremonial gestures as the president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, embarks on a diplomatic visit to Saint Lucia, a tiny island nation in the eastern Caribbean, on Saturday. Nigeria’s foreign policy may undergo a remarkable change if the visit is handled strategically, recognizing the Caribbean as an important economic and diplomatic partner in a multipolar world, in addition to a region with a shared history.
Despite having a population of less than 200,000, Saint Lucia has significant influence in the area. In addition to being the main hub of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional bloc with an economy worth $130 billion, it houses the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States’ (OECS) headquarters. Deeper engagement with such a bloc provides a means for a nation like Nigeria, which aspires to global reorientation, to expand its international alliances beyond its conventional ties with the US, China, and Europe.
The transatlantic slave trade, colonial legacies, and the region’s continued reliance on African heritage have all shaped Nigeria’s and the Caribbean’s close historical and cultural ties. But diplomacy based only on shared memory runs the risk of being sentimental rather than revolutionary. Focusing on current shared interests is now necessary, particularly in fields like healthcare, energy, digital finance, and mobility.
There is currently a scarcity of medical professionals in the Caribbean, especially general practitioners and nurses. Nigeria, on the other hand, produces a sizable number of medical professionals every year, many of whom either seek better opportunities overseas or remain underemployed. A framework for bilateral recruitment or exchange could benefit both areas by providing skilled Nigerian professionals with worthwhile employment overseas and bolstering Caribbean healthcare systems. Nigeria’s attempts to establish national health insurance programs, despite their flaws, could provide Saint Lucia, which is currently implementing a universal health coverage program, with important lessons.
Another promising path is the financial technology sector. Nigeria’s fintech industry has expanded quickly thanks to a young population, innovation, and necessity. There is an obvious chance for cooperation as Caribbean countries strive to update their financial systems, many of which still rely on antiquated banking infrastructures. Nigeria could be a driving force behind financial inclusion in the Caribbean by exporting fintech solutions and regulatory expertise. The synergy is clear: Caribbean jurisdictions offer financial stability and frequently have currencies based on the U.S. dollar, making them appealing entry points for cross-border collaborations; Nigeria offers innovation and experience.
Nigeria has the capacity to supply both conventional and renewable energy, which is in line with the urgent needs of the Caribbean. For power generation, many Caribbean states mainly rely on imported diesel, which leads to expensive and unstable supply chains. More significantly, Nigeria could offer technical know-how in renewable energy in addition to refined petroleum products. For island economies looking to lower their carbon footprints, distributed solar systems in particular provide scalable and sustainable solutions. The long-term development interests of both parties would be better served by a technical partnership as opposed to one based on straightforward fuel trade.
The lack of direct air travel between West Africa and the Caribbean is one of the most practical obstacles to deeper cooperation. Ideas, talent, goods, and tourists are constrained by geography and high transit costs in the absence of regular flights. Even the most well-meaning trade agreements or cultural exchanges are challenging to carry out due to the lack of aviation connectivity. Closing this crucial infrastructure gap may be made possible if President Tinubu’s visit includes discussions about bilateral aviation agreements or charter flights. Without airplanes in the sky, trade and tourism will not flourish.
A diplomatic entryway to the larger CARICOM community may also be provided by Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia. There are even more chances for investment and policy cooperation in the bloc’s larger economies, like Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. Recent oil discoveries have made Guyana’s economy—in particular—one of the fastest-growing in the world. Nigeria could help Guyana with its efforts in regulatory structuring, local content development, and sovereign wealth planning because of its decades of experience managing petroleum resources, both instructive and cautionary.
The potential for Africa-Caribbean cooperation has already been acknowledged by organizations such as the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), which has launched specific initiatives to foster trade, financing, and cultural integration between the two regions. Nigeria shouldn’t settle for just watching from the sidelines. It has a duty and a strategic incentive to spearhead these initiatives as the most populous and economically significant country in Africa.
However, maintaining the conversation may be more difficult than starting it. All too frequently, high-profile diplomatic missions conclude with hopeful photo opportunities and well-written statements but little structural change. Nigeria must act swiftly to create a formal framework for cooperation with the Caribbean, one that incorporates mechanisms for trade, education, cultural exchange, healthcare collaboration, and private sector engagement, if it hopes to make this visit a lasting one. Clear performance indicators must be used to manage this framework and conduct routine reviews.
The Caribbean shouldn’t just be viewed as a postcolonial echo or a nostalgic cultural mirror. It is a strategic, dynamic area with significant political and economic potential. Tinubu has the opportunity to change the terms of engagement during his trip to Saint Lucia—to go from symbolism to substance. Despite its small size, the island plays a significant role in this diplomatic equation. What transpires following the handshakes and speeches will determine whether Nigeria takes advantage of this opportunity.
Nigeria has the chance to demonstrate that it is not just a supplier of raw materials and migrants, but also a partner in advancement, innovation, and shared prosperity in a world that is becoming more and more characterized by new alliances and shifting centers of influence.
