President Bola Tinubu has received a distinguished honour from the government of Saint Lucia—the Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL)—the nation’s highest accolade. This prestigious award was officially conferred by the Governor General of Saint Lucia, according to an announcement released on Monday through the country’s verified 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) handle.

In the statement, the Saint Lucian government expressed its pleasure in bestowing the KCOSL title on President Tinubu, recognising his significant contributions and leadership. The official message 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.”

Currently on a diplomatic tour across the Caribbean and South America, President Tinubu addressed a joint session of Saint Lucia’s Senate and House of Assembly on Monday. Speaking at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, he reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

“My visit to Saint Lucia is in keeping with the ideal of building bridges between Africa and the Caribbean and creating pathways to deepen economic cooperation,” Tinubu stated. He emphasised that the journey reflects a mutual desire for prosperity, sustainable development, and stronger familial bonds. “Nigeria and Saint Lucia are united by history, culture, and shared aspirations,” he added.

During his speech, President Tinubu outlined plans to expand bilateral cooperation in various key sectors, including trade, investment, tourism, education, cultural exchange, and consular services. He highlighted the mutual benefits of enhanced institutional ties, particularly in youth development, academic collaboration, and sustainable growth initiatives.

In response, the government of Saint Lucia affirmed its readiness to formalize stronger diplomatic relations with Nigeria. In an official statement, Saint Lucia announced plans for a visa waiver agreement and other collaborative efforts. The statement said, “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,” marking a significant step towards a deeper partnership between the two nations.