July 01, 2025
By Adedoja Adesoji
Nigeria is set to welcome students from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as President Bola Tinubu has announced a scholarship scheme for Caribbean students to study in Nigeria.
The scheme is expected to commence in the next academic year.
The scholarship programme is part of a broader cooperation framework between Nigeria and the OECS, aimed at deepening people-to-people ties and expanding collaboration in education, trade, and development.
A joint implementation committee comprising representatives from Nigeria and OECS member states will oversee the rollout of the programme.
“I believe we can take advantage of our presence here to get from the fruit that is lower to us and then reach the opportunity we have right here.
“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.
“If we take a geometric definition of a straight line, which is the quickest point between two points, if we move on a straight line, we get our goal achieved, and there will be no problems.” Tinubu stated
President Tinubu also revealed plans to introduce visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and official passports from OECS countries.
The Nigerian leader emphasized the importance of cooperation between Nigeria and the OECS, citing potential benefits in areas such as business, education, and agriculture.
Prime Minister Philip Pierre of Saint Lucia welcomed the initiative, describing it as 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,” he said. “Well, at the joint meeting, we discussed that. Additionally, there are some islands in the OECS, such as St Kitts, where visa requirements do not apply… So we hope to have a speedy answer to that as soon as possible.”
The joint implementation committee will finalise modalities for the scholarship programme and ensure that beneficiaries commence studies in Nigeria in the next academic year.
The committee will also work on visa facilitation and other areas of cooperation, including air connectivity, trade, and tourism.
