President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that his private dinner with French President, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris reaffirmed the strong friendship between Nigeria and France and their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Tinubu, who is rounding off his working vacation in Europe, was hosted by Macron to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace.
Giving an update on the engagement yesterday morning through his verified X handle, @officialABAT, the President said his conversation with the French leader centred on the relationship between the two countries and the need to further strengthen their partnership.
“It was a pleasure to share a private dinner with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace Présidence de la République in Paris.
“Our conversation reaffirmed the strong friendship between Nigeria and France, as well as our shared commitment to deepening cooperation and building a mutually beneficial partnership between our two nations.
“I thank President Emmanuel Macron for his warm hospitality and friendship,” Tinubu wrote.
The President’s account provided further insight into the Thursday night engagement, which had earlier been disclosed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga had announced the meeting on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, describing it as another reflection of the enduring relationship between Abuja and Paris.
“French President Emmanuel Macron received President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a private dinner Thursday night at the Élysée Palace, reflecting the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France and their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation”, Onanuga had said.
The dinner came in the closing days of Tinubu’s working vacation in Europe and represents another high-level engagement between the Nigerian and French leaders as both countries seek to expand cooperation across strategic sectors.
President Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30 for his annual leave, with London as the first destination before proceeding to Paris for the concluding part of the vacation.
His latest engagement with Macron builds on a series of contacts between both leaders and growing efforts by Abuja and Paris to broaden their relationship beyond traditional diplomatic ties into trade, investment and other areas of economic cooperation.
President Tinubu has made investment mobilisation a major plank of his engagements with France, repeatedly presenting Nigeria’s economic reforms and large domestic market as opportunities for French and other international investors.
The relationship received a major boost during Tinubu’s state visit to France in November 2024, when Macron hosted the Nigerian leader in Paris for high-level talks focused on strengthening political and economic relations.
The visit produced engagements covering areas including agriculture, energy, infrastructure, security, education, solid minerals, finance and investment, with both governments expressing their intention to develop a more mutually beneficial partnership.
President Tinubu has since maintained high-level contacts with the French leadership and business community as his administration seeks foreign capital and partnerships to support its economic reform programme.
Thursday night’s private dinner, coming as the President concludes his European vacation, provided another opportunity for both leaders to review the relationship and reaffirm their commitment to expanding cooperation between Nigeria and France.
Meanwhile, the President has said Nigeria must convert the growing global popularity of its music, films, fashion and culture into lasting economic value, increased local production and jobs for young Nigerians.
The President, who described the country’s growing cultural influence as a “remarkable cultural moment”, said he wants more of the wealth generated by Nigerian talent to remain in the country rather than being captured elsewhere.
The president stated this also in a post on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, yesterday evening after meeting French businessman Vincent Bolloré and executives of the Bolloré Group in Paris for talks on expanding investments in Nigeria.
The discussions focused on investments across film, entertainment, fibre-optic infrastructure and the digital economy, with the President pushing for greater localisation of businesses operating in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is having a remarkable cultural moment in the world.
Our music fills stadiums across continents. Our films and stories are reaching new audiences. Nigerian creativity, fashion and culture are commanding global attention.
“We must turn this moment into lasting economic value for our people”, President Tinubu said.
The President added that his meeting with Bolloré and his executives involved extensive discussions on increasing their investments in Nigeria, particularly in sectors capable of harnessing the country’s rapidly expanding creative economy.
He said businesses associated with the group, including Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music, were interested in expanding their Nigerian operations.
“Through Canal+, MultiChoice, Universal Music and other businesses, they are looking to do more in Nigeria. They see our country as the arrowhead of Africa’s cultural awakening, powered by Nollywood, Afrobeats and the growing global appetite for Nigerian culture”, he said.
President Tinubu, however, stressed that the international success of Nigerian talent must increasingly translate into economic benefits within the country through local production, infrastructure development and employment.
“I want more of the value created by Nigerian talent to remain in Nigeria. More production at home. Greater investment in our local industries and infrastructure. More opportunities and jobs for our young people”, the President said.
He disclosed that he had consistently pressed investors on the need for greater localisation, including in his engagements concerning MultiChoice.
“I have made this case consistently, including on greater localisation by MultiChoice”, President Tinubu said.
The President linked the investment discussions to his administration’s economic reforms, saying they were intended to create an environment capable of attracting capital and stimulating growth.
He added, however, that attracting investments was not sufficient unless they produced tangible benefits for Nigerians.
“Our reforms are creating the conditions for investment and growth. My responsibility is to ensure that these investments translate into real opportunities for Nigerians.
“This is the purpose of the Renewed Hope Agenda”, he said.
The President’s post followed an earlier State House statement on the Paris meeting, which said Bolloré and his executives had outlined plans to deepen the localisation of their operations in Nigeria across film, entertainment, fibre-optic infrastructure and related sectors.
The meeting took place during President Tinubu’s work vacation in France and forms part of his administration’s efforts to attract investment into Nigeria’s creative and digital sectors while retaining a greater share of the economic value generated by Nigerian talent at home.
