Nigeria and Saint Lucia have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase collaboration in tourism, the Orange Economy, and creative industry investment.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to the Caribbean island.
The partnership seeks to combine Nigeria’s globally recognised creative strengths—such as Nollywood, Afrobeats, fashion, and storytelling—with Saint Lucia’s acclaimed tourism offerings and community-based tourism initiatives.
The MOU will focus on co-development of creative economy programs, youth-centered exchanges, and strengthening of value chains for fashion, textiles, and artisanal industries. Plans are underway for joint participation in major cultural festivals, including Saint Lucia’s renowned Jazz Festival.
Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa described the occasion as the dawn of a new era in Africa-Caribbean relations.
She emphasized that the MOU offers a strategic framework to leverage complementary strengths.
“Nigeria has mastered the art of creative industry and culture, from Nollywood to music to storytelling. Saint Lucia, on the other hand, has perfected the tourism model. This collaboration allows us to exchange expertise and co-develop our capacities in both sectors. This partnership can generate immense value for both our countries, but more importantly, it can inspire the global Black community,”Musawa stated.
Saint Lucia’s Minister for Tourism, Culture, and the Creative Industries, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, described the agreement as a formal reconnection of peoples separated by history but united by heritage.
“This agreement is about formally re-establishing those ancestral links.
From music and dance to fashion and sports, Nigeria has been an inspiration. We have enjoyed Nigerian talent at our Jazz Festival in recent years, and this MOU gives us the opportunity to deepen that relationship.”
