SALCC Students and Staff Celebrate Jounen Kwéyòl with Vibrant Cultural Showcase
The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College came alive on Wednesday, October 22, as students and staff gathered to celebrate Jounen Kwéyòl under the theme S.A.L.C.C. Kwéyòl Sé Fòs Nou: Anba Gwo Pyébwa-A: Koté lIstwa Nou Yé.
Organized by the Student Experience Unit in collaboration with the Student Council, the event celebrated Saint Lucian culture through music, dance, storytelling, and traditional dress. The lively afternoon brought together members of the College community to honor and enjoy the island’s rich Creole heritage.
The programme featured Carlton ‘Coaks’ Cyril, setting the tone for a spirited and lively celebration. Performances by the College’s Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) group captivated the audience, with a traditional masquerade dance and engaging Creole storytelling pieces that highlighted the vibrancy of Saint Lucian traditions.
The event also included interactive Kwéyòl trivia, a performance by ARK, and music by SOLO Band, which had attendees singing and dancing along. The celebration was well-attended and enthusiastically received, reflecting the College’s commitment to fostering cultural pride and community spirit among students and staff.
The full gallery covering the event can be found here.
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As part of his historic visit to Saint Lucia, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Sir Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was welcomed to the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) on Tuesday, July 1, for a special ceremony held in his honour.
President Tinubu and his delegation received a red-carpet reception and were greeted by members of the SALCC Board of Governors, the College’s management team, and a contingent of students. Also in attendance were the Minister for Education, Honourable Shawn Edward; a delegation from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission; and other specially invited guests.
Following the rendition of the national anthems of Saint Lucia and Nigeria, Chairman of the SALCC Board of Governors, Cletus Springer, delivered the opening remarks. He underscored the College’s unique connection to Nigeria through its namesake, Sir Arthur Lewis.
[Sir Arthur Lewis’] work laid foundational principles for post-colonial economic planning across the Global South, and Nigeria is no exception. His thinking was not only technical, but deeply pan-African.— Cletus Springer, Chairman of the SALCC Board of GovernorsRead Transcript 📚
Vice Principal of Academics, Dr. Winston Phulgence, then presented on SALCC’s history, its academic offerings and its special position of having both of the nation’s Nobel Laureates buried on campus.
President Tinubu during his address.
We are an institution of two thousand students, and host the powerhouse examples of Saint Lucian strength. As an institution, we serve the entire nation.— Dr. Winston Phulgence, Vice Principal of Academics at SALCC
The ceremony also featured cultural performances by students of the College’s Creative and Performing Arts programme. These included a recitation of the poem Saint Lucians Who Don’t Speak Kwéyòl by Shyne Savory, and a theatrical presentation of an excerpt from The Drum-Maker, a play by well-known Saint Lucian playwright Kendel Hippolyte.
In his address to the audience, President Tinubu acknowledged the legacy and stature of the College. He expressed interest in developing educational partnerships between Nigeria and SALCC, and emphasized the transformative power of education, describing it as the “great instrument for fighting poverty,” and urging students to remain committed to their academic journey.
It’s a great honour for me. Your institution is rich in history. It is known as the premiere college in Saint Lucia and the Eastern Caribbean;
Be bold in every way you can.— His Excellency Sir Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria
To commemorate the occasion, the College presented His Excellency with a plaque, a custom painting by SALCC Digital Media lecturer Ted Sandiford, and a curated collection of local publications from the Hunter J. François Library.
Nigerian President Tinubu (center) poses with SALCC's Board of Governors and Principal.(L-R): Ajani LeBourne, Althea Emmanuel, Cletus Springer, Dr. Fortuna Anthony and Principal Dr. Madgerie-Jameson Charles. 📷Photo Credit: Lewis Visuals 758
In delivering the vote of thanks, SALCC Students’ Council President, Naeem Philbert, expressed hope that the visit would lay the groundwork for deeper collaboration between Saint Lucia and Nigeria.
As we look to the future, we hope that this visit ignites meaningful conversations about youth engagement, about trade and investment, about education and about shared development— Naeem Philbert, President of the SALCC Students’ Council
Members of the Nigerian Delegation;
Honourable Shawn Edward — Minister of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training;
Dr. Didacus Jules — Director-General of the OECS Commission;
Faculty, Staff, and Students of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen; Good morning! E kaaro! Ina Kwana! Ututu oma!
In the interest of time management, I have used a truncated version of the protocols that have been established.
Your Excellency, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, it is my distinct honor to extend a heartfelt welcome to you, and the members of your delegation.
Your presence here today is deeply inspiring. We are touched that among the many options for your official and holiday visit, you prioritized spending time with us, especially our students (25 of whom are here) and the countless others who are watching online.
Your visit exemplifies the powerful cultural, historical, and spiritual ties that bind Africa and the Caribbean.
As Saint Lucians, we see reflections of our ancestry in Nigerian traditions — in the rhythms of our drumming, in the vibrancy of our Kwéyòl language, in the strength of our family values, and in the enduring spirit of our people.
As has been noted, Nigeria and this College and by extension Saint Lucia are joined at the hip by two illustrious Saint Lucians.
Sir Arthur Lewis, after whom this College is named, often spoke of the transformative power of education in shaping nations and bridging worlds. His work laid foundational principles for post-colonial economic planning across the Global South — and Nigeria was no exception
His economic thinking was not only technical but deeply Pan-African. He saw economic independence as essential to political sovereignty and actively encouraged African nations, including Nigeria, to take control of their development paths.
In your address to the joint sitting of Parliament you spoke of Sir Darnley Alexander who was a towering figure in Nigerian legal history. As the first non-Nigerian to serve as Chief Justice of Nigeria, he shaped a judiciary grounded in fairness, independence, and constitutional integrity during Nigeria’s Second Republic. He also supported efforts to adapt English common law to reflect Nigeria’s unique socio-cultural realities, laying the groundwork for the domestication of legal principles.
Both Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Darnley Alexander represent powerful symbols of Caribbean excellence contributing to African progress. Their legacies show that small island nations can have global impact, and that Caribbean-African solidarity has deep historical roots.
Their lives invite today’s leaders and institutions — such as Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and Nigerian universities — to reignite intellectual, educational, and cultural collaboration in pursuit of shared development goals.
We are proud to highlight the fact that Sir Darnley’s sister, Lady Marjorie Thomas, nee Alexander wife of the composer of Saint Lucia’s national anthem, Sir Leton Thomas, served as the Principal of our Teachers College for more than a decade.
We believe there is tremendous potential for partnership between our College and Nigerian universities and polytechnics — in student and faculty exchange, joint research initiatives, digital innovation, and the strengthening of technical and vocational education.
On behalf of all of us, we express our gratitude to you for pledging to provide tuition-free scholarships to young Saint Lucians to study in Nigeria. We are excited at the thought of our students learning alongside their Nigerian peers. This is the surest way for our respective peoples to build networks that cross oceans but remain rooted in our shared African-Caribbean identity.
Your Excellency, we are honored by your visit. We see it as an opening chapter to a deeper relationship between the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the great institutions of Nigeria. In the words of Nigeria’s national anthem, may your visit inspire our youth to serve with heart and might and may our nations become bound in freedom, peace and unity.
Once again, welcome to Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. It is with immense pride and joy that we welcome you.
