By Deji Elumoye
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, told French President Emmanuel Macron that Nigeria’s economy was being repositioned for more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that would wholly impact the livelihoods of the citizens.
Tinubu echoed Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing cooperation in key sectors, such as defence, education, food security, energy, and solid minerals.
He spoke in Paris at the start of a two-day state visit to France, the first by a Nigerian leader in more than two decades.
Speaking after meeting with Macron at the prestigious Palais des L’Élysée, Tinubu, at a joint press conference, 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.
“The French-Nigeria Business Forum is doing a lot already, but we need to do more on food security. We cannot help but invest in another’s country,” he said.
He emphasised Nigeria’s flourishing financial sector as a facilitator of foreign investment, particularly from French enterprises, as part of the drive to bolster food security.
The president explained, “Nigeria’s financial sector is evolving and flourishing. We are also creating grounds for investment in Nigeria’s economy for French nationals, especially in the area of food security.
“It is our responsibility to put together a food security programme for the private sector to come and invest in the country. We are working on stability and we are getting closer and closer, but we can do better and better.”
Tinubu stated, “I can assure you that Nigeria is open for business and close to this, we have a vibrant youth population that is educated, and ready to be trained in various areas of entrepreneurship and development.”
The president implored the French government to help in the area of training that would develop the youthful population in Nigeria.
“Furthermore, we should de-risk the opportunities in the solid minerals. We have the potentials and we have agreed on a deeper and deeper relationship,” the president added.
Tinubu stated that Nigeria, like many African countries, had been preoccupied with tackling the issues of food security.
“A starved nation will not care about weather or environment, and in the 21st Century no child should go to bed hungry,” he told the French president and his delegation.
He added, “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, Tinubu stated that there was a need for collective responsibility to fight terrorism.
“Nigeria is a partner in progress. We are ready to partner France so that we can have security operations that will stop the challenge of migration,” he stated.
Tinubu said the blue economy in Nigeria also provided a huge opportunity for investment, with unexplored potential in fishery.
He stated, “In Lagos, we have tamed the Atlantic Ocean. For us, fishery is an important aspect of investment. We want to assure the French investment community that Nigeria is open for business. It shall be easy in, and easy out.”
Macron acknowledged 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 stated that the global humanitarian challenges could only be solved with governments working together.
He told his Nigerian counterpart, “We have confidence that you, Mr President, will reinforce our relationship with Nigeria, and it will cover the West Coast region, with ECOWAS playing the leading role.
“I will seek your leadership to work as partners of progress. You are the great leader of the great country in Africa.
“We appreciate your visionary leadership and energy in transforming the economy of your country. We will work together for collective, global success.”
Macron had earlier assured the Nigerian president that he would encourage more investments in the solid minerals sector, with the signing of an agreement.
The agreement was reached during a political meeting, where Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, made a presentation on the country’s potential.
Before that, Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, were welcomed with full honours at Hotel Les Invalides and Palais De l’Élysée by Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron.
At another dialogue with the French president at the Palais des Élysée, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising education for Nigerian children.
He outlined plans to significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children through innovative return-to-class initiatives and skills development programmes.
Tinubu highlighted government’s ongoing efforts to create a supportive framework that ensured school-age children re-entered the classrooms, emphasising the role of motivation and skills acquisition in this regard.
“In order to bridge the gap for some who are of age, and have been out of school for a while, we will encourage skills development,” the he added.
Speaking in company with his wife, Tinubu told Macron and his wife that Nigeria’s development potential hinged on a well-educated populace.
He stated, “The insecurity in some parts of the country makes it hard for children to return to school, but we are gradually re-populating the classrooms. And we need skills development to bridge the gaps.”
Tinubu also highlighted the “notable progress” in enhancing security across Nigeria, employing “kinetic” strategies as part of the peace-building process.
He said, “With some more efforts, we will be able to get some level of stability. We had very good harvest this year. And as soon as more farmers can go back to the farm, we will have more stability in harvest and supply.”
Responding, Macron acknowledged Nigeria’s vast growth potential and the importance of investing in educational initiatives.
He reflected on his formative experiences during a six-month internship at the French Embassy in Nigeria, including visits to Lagos and Kano.
Macron and wife expressed gratitude to Nigeria’s first family for their visit, and promised to elevate the France-Nigeria partnership to new heights.