- Tinubu Unveils Nigeria–OECS Scholarship Plan to Boost Educational Ties
- Prime Minister Pierre praised the scholarship programme, calling it a timely and practical show of solidarity
- Tinubu also revealed that Nigeria is developing a proposal to grant visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and official passports from OECS member countries.
President Bola Tinubu has announced that a scholarship programme for students from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to study at universities in Nigeria will begin in the next academic year.
Eko Hot Blog reports that he made the announcement during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Philip J Pierre of Saint Lucia, following a high-level working luncheon with OECS leaders in Gros Islet on Monday. Tinubu noted that preparations for the programme are already underway.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Igbooye Kingdom Benefits from Federal Fishery Empowerment Initiative
- PANS-UNILAG Wraps Up Record-Breaking 2025 Health Week with Innovation, Impact, and Inspiration
- PHOTO SPEAKS: June Edition of NIMR Media Chat in Frames
According to a statement from Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the President said the scholarship initiative is part of a wider effort to strengthen connections between people and enhance cooperation in areas such as education, trade, and development.
Tinubu also revealed that Nigeria is developing a proposal to grant visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and official passports from OECS member countries.
“I believe we can take advantage of our presence here to reach for the low-hanging fruits and seize the opportunities available to us,” the President said.
“The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States is very close to us in Africa, and I thank them for the opportunity to address the joint session of Parliament and actualise our dream of greater connectivity to facilitate business, education opportunities, capacity building, and to explore other areas such as agriculture and food security.
“We can easily achieve this by establishing a working commission. The organisation itself has already taken several steps, and we are moving forward from there. We won’t drop the ball,” he added.
Tinubu explained that the scholarship scheme was created in collaboration with the OECS leadership and will be overseen by a joint implementation committee comprising representatives from both Nigeria and OECS member states.
The committee is responsible for finalising the operational details and ensuring that selected students commence their studies in the upcoming academic session.
When asked about potential challenges in strengthening cooperation with the OECS in areas such as trade, health, education, culture, and climate resilience, the Nigerian President responded:
“I don’t look at difficulties. I look at problem-solving. That is why the working lunch allowed for a quick understanding of any expected challenges.
“If we take the geometric definition of a straight line as the shortest path between two points — if we move in a straight line, we’ll reach our goal quickly, and there’ll be no problems,” Tinubu remarked.
Prime Minister Pierre praised the scholarship programme, calling it a timely and practical show of solidarity.
“We expect students to begin their studies in Nigeria in the next academic year, based on the President’s directive. This is immediate action,” Pierre affirmed.
He also confirmed that visa facilitation is a top priority on the agenda of the Nigeria–OECS Joint Committee, alongside efforts to improve air connectivity, boost trade, and promote tourism.
When asked about the timeline for reciprocal visa waivers from Saint Lucia and other OECS member countries, Prime Minister Pierre responded:
“At the joint meeting, we discussed the matter. There are already OECS islands like St. Kitts where visa requirements do not apply.
“The committee will address these issues, with people-to-people exchange and visa requirements being among the top priorities. We hope to have a speedy resolution,” he stated.
Earlier in the day, President Tinubu spoke before a special joint session of the Saint Lucian Senate and House of Assembly, where he shared his vision for a renewed and deeper partnership between Nigeria and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
“We held a joint session of Parliament where the President shared his vision for the future of OECS–Nigeria relations,” Pierre noted.
“At the luncheon, the President elaborated on how OECS countries would benefit from stronger ties with Nigeria.”
FURTHER READING
- Dr. Tunji Alausa Addresses FCT Teachers’ Wage Concerns
- Nigeria Will Be River Blindness Disease-Free By 2030 – NIMR Declares
FURTHER READING
- Dr. Tunji Alausa Addresses FCT Teachers’ Wage Concerns
- Nigeria Will Be River Blindness Disease-Free By 2030 – NIMR Declares
