President Bola Tinubu and Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Michael Drew, have agreed to appoint special envoys to advance bilateral engagement, strengthen existing areas of cooperation, and ensure that the partnership delivers benefits for both nations and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The Prime Minister disclosed this to journalists on Thursday after a courtesy visit to Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, where both leaders reviewed existing engagements and explored new areas of strategic cooperation.
Drew said the decision to designate special envoys in Abuja and Basseterre is aimed at reinforcing institutional follow-through on existing agreements, while expanding collaboration between Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the broader African and Caribbean blocs.
“We have agreed that there will be a special envoy to Saint Kitts and Nevis, and of course, we would have a special envoy here to further the collaboration and ensure tangible benefits for both Saint Kitts and Nevis and the wider CARICOM, as well as Nigeria and the African continent,” he said.
The Prime Minister commended Tinubu for his leadership, openness, and commitment to strengthening Africa-Caribbean relations, describing Nigeria as a significant country both on the continent and globally.
“It’s always a pleasure for me to be here in Nigeria. I was here last year around this time, and I’m back again. I want to thank His Excellency, the President, who has been gracious as a host,” he added.
Highlighting historical and cultural ties, Drew noted that many citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis trace their ancestry to Nigeria, particularly the Calabar region.
“This is our people. Our people in Saint Kitts and Nevis fundamentally came from Calabar here in Nigeria. So I always say we have come back home,” he said.
On broader cooperation, Drew said discussions with Tinubu focused on cultural exchange, education, agriculture, food security, and wider development partnerships between Africa and the Caribbean.
He identified existing collaboration in the health and education sectors as key successes, noting that Nigerian-trained professionals have contributed significantly to development efforts in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
“A lot of Nigerians have studied in my country, and they are doctors today. We have had a contingent of doctors who went to Saint Kitts and Nevis already. We are seeing tangible benefits from our collaboration, and now we are taking it to the next level,” he said.
The agreement signals a shift from symbolic diplomacy to more structured and results-driven engagement between Nigeria and the Caribbean.
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