The Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier, at the weekend, celebrated the French national day and highlighted the achievements of ‘Team France’ in the country, alongside its Nigerian partners.
The commemoration of French National Day celebrates the country’s evolution from a monarchy to a republic, symbolising the solidarity of every French region and citizen with the ideals of “liberty, equality and fraternity,” which later became the motto of the Republic.
Celebrated yearly on 14th July, these values have guided France’s action while promoting international solidarity, peace, democracy and multilateralism.
During his opening speech, Favier said apart from the common values and bonds linking Nigeria and France, the bilateral relationship, which has a history spanning many decades, has experienced significant growth recently, notably through various official visits over the past two years and climaxing with President Tinubu’s state visit to France in late 2024 and the working visit of several Governors to Paris in April 2025.
He added that new partnerships and MoUs have been established over the last months, towards the same objectives of jobs creation and entrepreneurship in various sectors such as vocational training, creative and cultural industries, digital and technological innovation, e-sport, student mobility and university cooperation showcasing the vitality of our cooperation.
He went on to add that the Cooperation and Cultural department of the French Embassy in Lagos continues to focus its efforts on the audiovisual sectors (film, animation, documentary, esports and video games) as well as cultural fields (fashion and design, heritage, music and performing arts).
Through the Création Africa programme he said, its initiatives emphasise professional training, support and funding for local projects, connection with French expertise and the mobility of Nigerian professionals to France for key industry events.
“In collaboration with the research institute IFRA, based in Ibadan, the Cooperation and Cultural department is also developing various activities with Funds for Cultural and Creative Industries (FEF), particularly around Nigeria’s alternative heritage, including the upcoming travelling exhibition on Fela Kuti in Lagos, in partnership with the Philharmonie de Paris.
This department further facilitates curatorial and design residencies in collaboration with the Cité Internationale des Arts and aims to enhance intellectual exchange and professional movement.”
“All cultural events are organised in close collaboration with the two Alliance Francaise centers in Lagos, which play a significant role in the city’s yearly cultural agenda, including events like the Féte de la Musique and the Francophonie celebration,” he said.
Fueled by a flourishing creative economy and thriving music and film industries, Nigeria has established itself as a driver of global pop culture and will again be the cultural powerhouse of the continent when it hosts a major event coming up in October.
Following President Emmanuel Macron’s commitment, Création Africa Forum will cross the Mediterranean to establish its second edition in Lagos following the success of its first edition held in Paris in 2023 (323 African guests, 35 African countries, 50 French companies). This expanded edition in Lagos will explore new fields, such as digital innovation in fashion, sound design and special effects, while welcoming over 600 African and European participants, particularly from the young and emerging generations.
With its reinvigorated purpose, the Création Africa Forum seeks to establish itself as a key event in the global creative scene, bridging the energetic creativity of Africa with new markets and worldwide audiences.
Also noting that Nigeria has been a significant technical and financial partner of the French Development Agency, he said over 3.3 billion euros has been invested in more than 57 projects, including 800 million euros through its private-sector subsidiary, Proparco.
The goal of the partnership between AFD and Nigeria he said, is to promote a sustainable and inclusive development model that creates employment, enhances infrastructure and enhances education and skills development.
AFD’s financing has had significant effects on Nigerians in 23 states, with 2.2 million people benefiting from permanent access to basic services and resilient infrastructure. AFD-funded projects have led to the improvement of drinking water access for one million people, the creation or support of 300, 000 jobs, and the saving of 500, 000 tons of C02 emissions every year.
“The AFD’s commitment to public transport and mobility in Lagos is visible. The Omi Eko project’s goal is to provide a safe, desirable, and affordable alternative to road transport to 25 million passengers annually. The impact will be tangible, as there will be a decrease in traffic, a reduction in transportation expenses and a significantly improved quality of life. For instance, a commuter who travels from Ikorodu to Marina can benefit from significant time savings and a much more pleasant journey,” he said.
Revealing that Nigeria is the first trading partner for France in sub-Saharan Africa and remains the main destination for French investments in West Africa, with approximately 60 per cent of total investments, he noted that over 14,000 Nigerians are employed by over 100 French companies that operate across the country.
These firms operate in crucial areas like oil and gas, agriculture and agri-food, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, technology, logistics and microfinance. They make investments in factories, farms and vocational training institutes and establish long-term partnerships that exemplify their entrepreneurial drive and a strong commitment to social impact.
Expressing pride and joy at celebrating the French National Day with its Nigerian partners, Favier said all departments of the Consulate General do a remarkable job in promoting and deepening bilateral relations between Nigeria and France.
They include Business France, the Economic Department (to foster economic and commercial business in France or in Nigeria), the French Development Agency (AFD) Group with its two subsidiaries, Proparco and Expertise France; the French Foreign Trade Advisors, who are a strong group of French Foreign Trade Advisors and can be found in the very dynamic Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, which has 500 members and the France-Nigeria Business Council, Promosalons, Alliance Francaise de Lagos – Mike Adenuga center, the French Lycée Louis Pasteur, Campus France (the gateway to attend higher education in France), as well as the Cooperation and Cultural Affairs Department.
