President Bola Tinubu has been honoured with the Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL), the highest national award bestowed by the government of Saint Lucia.
Naijaonpoint reports that the prestigious title was conferred by the Governor General of Saint Lucia, according to an official statement released on Monday via the country’s verified 𝕏 handle.
The statement read, “The Government of Saint Lucia is pleased to announce that the Governor General has conferred the title of Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL) upon H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Naijaonpoint had earlier reported that President Tinubu, who is currently on a diplomatic tour of the Caribbean and South America, addressed a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Assembly of Saint Lucia on Monday.
During his speech at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, the Nigerian leader reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening Africa-Caribbean ties and fostering deeper cooperation between both regions.
“My visit to Saint Lucia is in keeping with the ideal of building the bridge between Africa and the Caribbean and creating a pathway to deepen economic ties and foster mutual cooperation,” Tinubu said.
He added, “It also reflects our desire as a people to advance prosperity, sustainable development, and strengthen familial bonds. Nigeria and the island of Saint Lucia are bound by history, culture, and common aspirations.”
President Tinubu outlined his administration’s desire to expand bilateral cooperation across several key sectors including trade, investment, tourism, education, cultural exchange, and consular services.
He emphasized that both nations stand to benefit from enhanced institutional ties, particularly in areas of youth development, academic collaboration, and sustainable growth.
Following Tinubu’s address, the government of Saint Lucia confirmed its readiness to formalise diplomatic relations with Nigeria. In its official statement, the country announced a visa waiver agreement and other key initiatives.
“Saint Lucia and the Federal Republic of Nigeria will establish a visa waiver arrangement for holders of diplomatic and official passports from OECS member states,” the statement noted.