By Crystal Nwakanma
During a high-profile meeting at the Palais des L’Élysée on Thursday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with France in key sectors including food security, energy, education, solid minerals, and defense. At a joint press conference, President Tinubu outlined the untapped potential of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, urging international investors, particularly from France, to seize the opportunities for growth within the nation’s thriving financial environment.
Tinubu emphasized the growing prospects in Nigeria’s agricultural industry and called for increased French investment to address food security challenges. He remarked that while the French-Nigeria Business Forum was already playing a pivotal role, much more needed to be done to tackle food insecurity. “We must invest in each other’s countries,” he stressed, underscoring Nigeria’s readiness to facilitate foreign investment in this sector.
The President also highlighted the flourishing Nigerian financial sector as a critical driver for foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly from French companies. “Nigeria is evolving rapidly, and we are actively working to create an enabling environment for French businesses to invest in sectors such as food security,” President Tinubu said. He also pointed to the nation’s youthful and educated population, which he believes can be further developed with the right training and investment.
On the subject of solid minerals, President Tinubu advocated for de-risking investment opportunities, emphasizing Nigeria’s vast mineral resources and the potential for deeper economic collaboration between the two countries.
Addressing food security, President Tinubu expressed the urgency of ensuring that no child in Africa goes to bed hungry. “A starved nation cannot focus on anything else,” he said, calling for more international support in developing comprehensive food security programs. He also pointed to the importance of education in tackling hunger, noting that if children were provided with a nutritious meal, they would be more likely to stay in school and pursue their education.
In terms of security, President Tinubu underscored the need for collective international efforts to combat terrorism and address migration challenges. He reassured France that Nigeria is committed to being a strong partner in regional security efforts, particularly in collaboration with ECOWAS.
The potential of Nigeria’s blue economy also featured prominently in the discussion, with President Tinubu highlighting the nation’s vast, underutilized fisheries sector. He invited French investors to explore opportunities in this area, particularly in Lagos, where the Nigerian government has successfully harnessed the Atlantic Ocean for sustainable fishery practices.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in his remarks, welcomed the strengthened bilateral ties between the two nations, stressing the importance of cooperation on global issues like humanitarian challenges and economic development. He expressed confidence that under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria’s economy would continue to transform and that France would support this growth, especially in areas such as creative industries and youth development.
The visit also saw President Macron reaffirming France’s commitment to boosting investments in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, with agreements set to be signed in the coming days. Both leaders expressed a mutual desire to deepen the partnership between their countries for long-term success in the region.