Tinubu Approves Scholarship Scheme for Caribbean Students to Study in Nigeria

 President Bola Tinubu, on June 30, 2025, approved a scholarship scheme for 1,000 Caribbean students to study in Nigerian universities, announced during his diplomatic visit to Saint Lucia. 

The initiative, part of Nigeria’s $2 billion educational exchange program, targets students from Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Jamaica, offering fully funded degrees in agriculture, technology, and medicine. Tinubu, speaking at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, linked the program to Nigeria’s historical ties with the Caribbean, noting shared ancestry and cultural exchanges dating back to the 19th century.

The scholarships, costing N5 billion annually, will be managed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), targeting Nigeria’s 300 universities, including the University of Ibadan, which hosts 5% of Africa’s international students. 

Saint Lucia’s Senate President Alvina Reynolds hailed the program as a “bridge for mutual growth,” expecting a 10% increase in bilateral trade by 2027. The initiative aims to counter brain drain, with 50,000 Nigerian professionals abroad, and foster skills transfer, with Caribbean students trained in Nigeria’s $50 billion agricultural sector. Applications open in Q1 2026, with 80% of slots reserved for STEM fields.

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