President Bola Tinubu yesterday affirmed Nigeria’s strong commitment to enhancing cooperation in key sectors such as food security, energy, solid minerals, education, and defense during a high-profile meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, at the prestigious Palais des L’Élysée.
At a joint press conference, President Tinubu highlighted the vast, yet largely untapped potential within Nigeria’s agricultural sector and beckoned international investors to capitalise on the nation’s welcoming investment climate.
He emphasised Nigeria’s flourishing financial sector as a facilitator for foreign investment, particularly from French enterprises, as part of the drive to bolster food security.
President Tinubu said Nigeria’s economy was being repositioned for more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that will directly impact the livelihood of the citizens. He implored the French government to extend to Nigeria trainings that will develop the youthful population.
President Tinubu noted that Nigeria, like most African nations, had been preoccupied with tackling issues of food security, telling the French President and his delegation: “A starved nation will not care about weather or environment, and in the 21st century no child should go to bed hungry. If an African child is given a glass of milk in a class, there will be no problem in getting him to return and stay in school to learn. The more educated the children are, the better it is for us”.
On security, the President noted that there was a need for collective responsibility to fight terrorism.
President Macron acknowledged President Tinubu’s State visit as a milestone heralding deeper bilateral relationships, particularly emphasising collaborative growth in creative industries and youth-focused initiatives. The French President noted that the global humanitarian challenges could only be solved with governments working together.
President Macron had earlier assured that he would encourage more investments in the solid minerals sector, with the signing of an agreement, during a political meeting, where the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, made a presentation on the potentials.
Earlier, President Tinubu and First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu were welcomed with full honours at Hotel Les Invalides and Palais De l’Élysée by President Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron.
