Tinubu Offers Scholarship Programme for Caribbean Students to Study in Nigeria
In a historic diplomatic gesture aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s relationship with Caribbean nations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the introduction of a fully-funded scholarship programme for students from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to pursue higher education in Nigerian universities starting from the next academic year.
The announcement was made during President Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia, where he held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Tinubu described the initiative as part of Nigeria’s broader foreign policy strategy to deepen South-South cooperation and foster greater people-to-people ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
“The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States is very close to us in Africa,” Tinubu said. “We share a common history, a common struggle, and a shared destiny. It is time to build on that foundation with practical, lasting partnerships.”
According to Tinubu, the scholarship programme will enable OECS nationals to study in various Nigerian tertiary institutions, with full academic funding, living expenses, and accommodation provided.
The first group of students under the programme is expected to arrive in Nigeria in time for the 2025/2026 academic session.
To ensure a seamless rollout, a joint implementation committee comprising officials from Nigeria and OECS member states has already been established.
The committee will handle the logistics of the scholarship process, including candidate selection, institutional placements, visa facilitation, and travel arrangements.
In addition to the scholarships, Tinubu announced new plans to simplify visa protocols for holders of diplomatic and official passports from OECS nations.
The policy change, he said, is aimed at easing academic mobility, enhancing tourism, and facilitating direct governmental exchanges.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre welcomed the initiative, describing it as “a timely and practical expression of solidarity.”
He expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s leadership in building stronger Afro-Caribbean ties and confirmed that his government will begin preparations to ensure OECS students can take full advantage of the opportunity.
“This is more than a scholarship offer; it is a statement of unity between our peoples. We are excited to partner with Nigeria on this bold step forward,” Pierre said.
The announcement comes amid renewed efforts by Nigeria to assert its influence across the Global South.
The scholarship programme represents a strategic pivot in President Tinubu’s education and foreign policy agenda, particularly after his administration scrapped the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) earlier this year.
That programme had previously funded Nigerian students to study abroad, but Tinubu’s government said the focus would now shift to building stronger academic institutions at home and attracting international students to Nigeria.
Observers have noted that this new programme may not only improve Nigeria’s image as an education hub in Africa but also enhance economic and cultural ties with the Caribbean region. Plans are also underway to improve air connectivity, simplify customs regulations, and stimulate trade between Nigeria and the OECS bloc.
The OECS comprises countries such as Saint Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Montserrat. Many of these nations have historical links to Africa through the transatlantic slave trade and continue to share linguistic, cultural, and ancestral ties with the continent.
