National Day Celebration: French Consul General In Lagos, Highlights Stronger France-Nigeria Relations

National Day Celebration: French Consul General In Lagos, Highlights Stronger France-Nigeria Relations

The French Consul General in Lagos, Laurent Favier, marked Bastille Day in Lagos, commemorating another French National Day. He underscored the day’s significance for the French people, emphasizing their unity under the motto “liberté, égalité, fraternité.”

“These values we celebrate today guide France’s actions, promoting international solidarity, peace, democracy, and multilateralism,” stated Favier. With the upcoming Olympic Games in France, he urged embracing Olympism values such as excellence, respect, friendship, determination, equality, inspiration, and courage.

Favier acknowledged the celebrations in Lagos and Abuja, extending the occasion to Nigerian friends and advocates of freedom globally. He commended the longstanding bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and France across various sectors, highlighting increased engagement since President Tinubu’s election, including four French ministerial visits, notably by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Highlighting new partnerships focused on youth and women’s empowerment in Nigeria, Favier outlined initiatives aimed at promoting job creation and entrepreneurship through vocational training, creative industries, digital innovation, e-sports, student mobility, and university cooperation.

In June, there were extensive cultural collaborations supported by the French Embassy, with over 25 Nigerian animation studios participating in the Annecy animation film festival. Young Nigerian documentary filmmakers presented their projects to French producers for the first time at the Sunny Side of the Doc in La Rochelle. The “Lagos x Paris” Accelerator highlighted the fashion and design sectors, providing guidance and support for promising Nigerian entrepreneurs.

The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group marked its 15th anniversary in Nigeria with a significant event in Abuja. Since 2009, AFD has invested 3.3 billion euros in over 57 projects in Nigeria, promoting sustainable and inclusive development, employment generation, infrastructure improvement, and support for education and skills development.

Favier also acknowledged the robust economic and trade relationship between Nigeria and France. Nigeria stands as France’s foremost trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with French investments in Nigeria totaling approximately 10 billion euros. Around 100 French companies operate in Nigeria, employing over 10,000 Nigerians across sectors including oil, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, technology, logistics, and microfinance.

He praised the contributions of “Team France” in Lagos, comprising Business France, the Economic Department, the AFD Group, the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, the group of French Foreign Trade Advisors, and other institutions. Favier emphasized their pivotal role in deepening bilateral relations between Nigeria and France.