President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to fostering stronger bilateral ties with France in critical sectors, including food security, energy, solid minerals, education, and defense. This was emphasized during a high-profile meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, culminating in a joint press conference.
Highlighting Nigeria’s untapped agricultural potential, President Tinubu called on international investors to seize opportunities in the country’s welcoming investment climate. “The French-Nigeria Business Forum is making strides, but we must do more on food security. Nigeria is open for business, and our evolving financial sector creates a fertile ground for foreign investment,” he stated.
President Tinubu unveiled plans to reposition Nigeria’s economy to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), emphasizing the importance of training Nigeria’s vibrant and youthful population to drive entrepreneurship and development. He urged the French government to provide training programs for Nigerian youth, which would further strengthen the bilateral relationship.
In addition, the Nigerian President underscored the need to “de-risk opportunities” in solid minerals, inviting French enterprises to explore investments in Nigeria’s vast mineral resources. He also highlighted the blue economy, particularly in fisheries, as an area ripe for collaboration.
On food security, President Tinubu stressed its importance to Africa’s stability, saying, “A starved nation will not care about the environment. In the 21st century, no child should go to bed hungry.” He further proposed innovative programs such as providing schoolchildren with milk to encourage education and improve learning outcomes.
Addressing security concerns, President Tinubu called for collective action to tackle terrorism and migration challenges. “Nigeria is ready to partner with France on security operations that will bring stability to the region,” he noted.
President Macron lauded President Tinubu’s visionary leadership and praised his administration’s efforts to transform Nigeria’s economy. He emphasized the importance of collaborative growth in creative industries and youth-centered initiatives, promising to deepen France’s investments in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector. Macron expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, describing him as a “great leader of a great country in Africa.”
The meeting also featured the signing of agreements to enhance collaboration, with Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, showcasing the nation’s vast mineral wealth.
Earlier, President Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu received ceremonial honors at Hotel Les Invalides and the Élysée Palace, underscoring the significance of the State Visit in reinforcing Nigeria-France relations. Both nations committed to strengthening their partnership to address global humanitarian and economic challenges.