Nigeria has secured support from Saint Lucia to develop its community tourism programme. The Caribbean nation will offer expertise, training, and standards to improve Nigeria’s grassroots tourism and hospitality sector.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia. Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, signed the deal alongside Saint Lucia’s Minister of Tourism, Dr. Ernest Hilaire.
What the Partnership Covers
The MoU focuses on three main areas:
- Tourism Development
Saint Lucia will help Nigeria design a robust community tourism model. Additionally, it will share its knowledge on certification and train local hospitality workers. - Creative and Cultural Exchange
Nigeria will welcome Saint Lucia to events like Lagos Fashion Week 2025. In return, both countries will collaborate on festivals like Saint Lucia Carnival and the Jazz & Arts Festival. - Capacity Building
Both nations will provide joint training in sound engineering, music production, and heritage preservation. This will help grow talent in creative fields.
A Strategic Win for Both Sides
According to Musawa,
“Nigeria shines in film, music, and storytelling. Saint Lucia excels in tourism. Together, we build stronger sectors.”
The initial one-year MoU includes a Joint Committee. This group will implement a five-year action plan with measurable goals.
Why It Matters
This agreement marks a new chapter in Africa-Caribbean cooperation. It promotes deeper ties, stronger industries, and people-focused development. More importantly, it shows how South-South partnerships can create real change.
As Nigeria pushes for cultural and tourism growth, partnerships like this will drive economic empowerment—starting from the grassroots.
