France has reaffirmed its dedication to deepening diplomatic, cultural, and technological relations with Nigeria, with a renewed give attention to sustainable growth and artistic industries.
The dedication was reiterated in Lagos in the course of the second version of the Discussion board Création Africa, Africa’s largest platform devoted to inventive and cultural industries.
The weekend occasion, organised by the French Ministry for Europe and Overseas Affairs in partnership with MansA, attracted over 1,000 contributors from 42 nations, together with 80 Nigerian creators in movie, design, gaming, and prolonged actuality.
Talking on the occasion, the French Minister Delegate for Europe and Overseas Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, mentioned the discussion board represented a big milestone in Franco–Nigerian relations.
“France is on the forefront of European inventive and cultural industries, and Nigeria leads in Africa.
We are able to obtain quite a bit collectively by bringing our abilities, energies, and entrepreneurs into the identical area, simply as we’re doing right now in Lagos,” Barrot mentioned.
He famous that the choice to host the second version in Lagos adopted a dedication made by French President Emmanuel Macron throughout a gathering with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Paris final yr. ‘When President Macron met President Tinubu in France, he promised the following version can be held in Lagos. As we speak, that promise has been fulfilled,’ he mentioned.
Barrot described France–Nigeria relations as probably the most intense in current historical past, pointing to high-level visits, enterprise collaborations, and civil society engagement.
“Macron got here to Nigeria in 2018. Tinubu was in France final yr. Since then, each nations have constructed a partnership of equals that helps their strategic autonomy. We have now had an enormous quantity of interplay, together with internet hosting eight Nigerian governors in Paris and celebrating African abilities like Davido on the Ministry of Overseas Affairs,” he acknowledged.
Past cultural diplomacy, Barrot highlighted France’s funding in infrastructure and sustainable growth, citing the Omi Eko Mission, a €410 million initiative co-funded by France and the European Union to modernise water transport in Lagos.
He mentioned the undertaking will introduce 75 electrical boats and open 15 new routes overlaying 140 kilometres throughout Lagos waterways. “This undertaking will ship decarbonised water transport for Lagos, serving to the town resist rising sea ranges whereas decreasing its carbon footprint. It’s anticipated to chop 41,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per yr,” he mentioned.
He additionally inaugurated the renovated French Faculty of Lagos, which accommodates French and Nigerian college students. Barrot mentioned the undertaking underscores shared academic and cultural values.
The Création Africa Discussion board additionally served as a bridge between African creators and European traders, digital innovators, and policymakers, to spice up truthful participation within the world inventive financial system.
In the meantime, discussions on the discussion board explored the rising impression of Synthetic Intelligence (AI) on African creativity. Members referred to as for moral approaches to AI growth that mirror native languages, cultural values, and inventive traditions.
“Expertise is one other discipline ripe for collaboration. France, Nigeria, and Europe share a standard imaginative and prescient for growth, rooted in multilateralism and respect for worldwide legislation. We wish to innovate and develop our personal instruments to strengthen our autonomy whereas guaranteeing regulation protects residents with out stifling innovation,” Barrot added.
