President Bola Tinubu has left Saint Lucia for Brazil, marking the second leg of his two-nation diplomatic visit. The Nigerian leader is scheduled to attend the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which will take place from July 6 to 7, 2025.
His departure on Friday followed a six-day state visit to the Caribbean nation, which began on June 28. He was seen off at the Hewanorra International Airport by Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip Pierre.
During his visit, Tinubu held separate meetings with Governor General Cyril Charles and Prime Minister Pierre. He also addressed a joint session of the Saint Lucian Senate and House of Assembly in Sandals Grande on Monday.
One key outcome of the visit was the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Saint Lucia. Both countries signed a Technical Manpower Assistance agreement, under which skilled Nigerian professionals will be deployed to Saint Lucia.
In Brazil, President Tinubu will join leaders from Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa as the African representatives at the BRICS gathering. The summit is expected to address global economic cooperation, trade, and South-South collaboration.
