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Tag: Emmanuel Macron

  • Get involved in politics, Macron tells Nigerian youths

    President of France, Emmanuel Macron has told Nigerian youths to be actively involved in the nation’s politics in order to change the narrative of the nation.

    Describing politics as important, the French president said only Nigerians could change their image and that of the nation before the comity of nations.

    Macron who was accompanied by governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state, threw the challenge during a visit to the Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, on Tuesday night at an event tagged “Celebrate African Culture”.

    He noted that the future of Africa and the task of making it great rested with Africans, stressing that the youths has a crucial role to play in the quest.

    “Africa needs a new generation of Africans to share the new narrative about Africa all over the world,” he said.

    Read Also:Why I chose to visit Afrika Shrine in Lagos – President Macron

    According to him, politics is important because it is a tool to change the society. He described the Afrika Shrine as an iconic place of strength, music, culture and the late Fela, as a politician who wanted change for the society.

    “I am very happy to be here. Let me remind you that this place — Shrine is a music place as well as politics, which is needed to change the society. So, I will say to the youths, politics is important, be involved,” he said.

    “The Shrine is a cultural hub, an iconic hub and it is very important for me first on a personal level, and that is why I want to say with a lot of humility that I recognize the importance of this place, I recognize the place of culture in this current environment.”

    Macron also announced the launch of the 2020 African Cultures Season in France. He said the event would help create a unique face for African culture in Europe.

    “I discovered Nigeria and a lot of my friends are here. I discovered Lagos and I discovered the shrine. This place is an iconic place and it is a place where the best of music is given. I have to say my main memories about this place are friends, proud people, proud of their culture, proud of their art and music. I have a very different view of Africa than a lot of other people in Europe,” he said.

    Macron stressed the need for Africa and Europe, especially France to build a new commonality, adding that “this new commonality is not based on what is important for Europeans but what is important for Africa, about their culture, how they build their culture and promote the culture and which places are important for them about their culture. Being here, I do recognize their culture and respect their views. This place is important for Africa and their culture and that is why I am here.”

    The African Cultural Season 2020 in France which will be hosted by his country he said, would be about promoting African culture in Europe, adding that the event was going to be for Africa and by African artistes.

    “It will include people with fashion, African movies, new generation of artistes will be coming from Africa and it will be organized by them to show Europe and France” the real culture of Africa.

    “The event will be financed by African leaders. It will not be sponsored by France or European businesses, but by African businesses, it is brand new. This season is a unique one and it will be the new face of Africa in Europe organize by Africans, providing what you like and what you have here,” he said.

    Earlier, Governor Ambode said the President’s visit was expected to signal the dawn of a new collaboration between France and Lagos state in the quest to make the state the culture and entertainment capital of Africa.

    Ambode said the event was also about celebrating African culture, which was a positive step for France as it sought to rebuild its relationship with Africa.

    There were also Art Exhibition, Fashion Show, display of Nollywood scenes, presentation of a painting of Fela to Macron by Governor Ambode as well as pencil frame artwork of Macron done by 11-old old Kareem Olamilekan drawn within two hours.

    Highpoints of the night include sterling performances by dance group, Footprints of David, music artistes, Yemi Alade, Charlotte Dipanda from Kenya and a scintillating performance by Femi Kuti to bring the event to a close.

    The event presented an opportunity for Macron and Ambode to interact with musicians, artists, fashion designers and film makers.

    The event had in attendance personalities which include Dr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra; Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun; Prof. Wole Soyinka, Sen. Ben Bruce, among others.

     

  • Femi Kuti, others thrill guests as French president visits Afrika Shrine

    Femi Kuti, Afrobeat musician and son of music legend Fela thrilled French President Emmanuel Macron and guests alongside dance hall singer Yemi Alade at the New Afrika Shrine on Tuesday.

    Both of them were among entertainers and industry experts gathered at the Shrine to celebrate Fela’s legacy during the visit of French President.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Macron, who visited the shrine to inaugurate the African Cultural season to be hosted in France in 2020, is believed to be the first real President to enter the shrine.

    The event, hosted by Banky W and Kenturah King, was tagged ‘Celebration of African Culture’ and witnessed massive turnout of entertainers across the music industry and Nollywoood.

    Macron was welcomed by the Lagos State governor Akinwunmi Ambode and was given a tour of the cultural landmark, shortly before he was seen gleefully dancing as Femi Kuti performed.

    The New Afrika Shrine serves as the host location of the annual Felabration music festival and is currently managed by Fela’s children Femi Kuti and Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti.

    It is the replacement of the old Afrika Shrine created in 1970 by Fela Kuti until it was burnt down in 1977 and showcases photo galleries of Fela’s life and musical performances.

    Performing a medley of her hit songs, Yemi Alade stepped on stage with a crew of energetic dancers to perform live, which elicited the applause of guests, including Macron.

    This was followed by a short skit improvisation by Nollywood stars including Joke Silva, Dakore Akande, Rita Dominic and Ramsey Nuoah, where Macron played the role of a film director alongside Kunle Afolayan.

    Macron earlier stated that he was not a stranger to the club, adding that he recognised the Shrine as an importance place for lovers of African culture. (NAN)

  • French Govt helping Nigeria fight Boko Haram, says Ambassador

    … As Minister confers Macron honorary citizenship of Abuja 

     

    French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer, on Tuesday said French President Emmanuel  Macron’s government has been partnering with Nigerian government in the fight against Boko Haram sect.

    Gauer said this in Abuja during the first visit of Macron to Nigeria since his election in May 2017.

    Presenting the Key to the City of Abuja to President Macron,  the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Bello stated that it demonstrates the strong friendship and cordial relationship between the people of Nigeria and France.

    President Macron’s Boeing 777 Republique Francaise aircraft touched down in the Presidential Wing of the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,  at exactly  15.09 hours local time.

    He was received upon arrival by the Nigerian  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama.

    Read Also: Dialogue is solution to Boko Haram, says Turaki

    Speaking to newsmen on the visit, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer, stated that the visit underscores the very strong relationship between  France and Nigeria.

    According to the statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, to the FCT Minster,  Mr. Cosmas Uzodinma, Gauer said that France has ongoing security  and political partnerships with Nigeria especially in the fight against  Boko Haram.

    He however noted that the current visit would focus on economic and cultural cooperation. He would also dialogue with Nigerian youths.

    To this effect,  the French President after his meeting with the Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari, would proceed to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital for other aspects of the visit.

    In his words, “France has had strong security cooperation with Nigeria with regards to Boko Haram insurgency but the current visit would focus on culture  business and youth. He hopes to dialogue with Nigerian youths.”

    President Macron, it could  be recalled, has been to most francophone countries as well as Ghana.

    Nigeria is the second anglophone  country he is visiting.

  • Buhari, French President meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with the French President, Emmanuel Macron, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started at 4:34 p.m. when the French President arrived the State House, Abuja.

    Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, was among the top government officials that received Macron at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa.

    The two leaders posed for photograph shots at the entrance of the President’s office before the meeting started.

    There will be press briefing at the end of the meeting, which will include signing of some Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • …As President Emmanuel Macron meets Nollywood

    I have made references to the importance of films as a tool for cultural exchange and international diplomacy in several articles. And as the number one man of France, President Emmanuel Macron visits Nigeria this July; his coming presents another opportunity to look at the possibility of a co-production or any other form of collaboration that Nigeria can make with France.

    Apart from the fact that Nollywood filmmakers are enamoured of the 71-year-old Cannes International Film Festival (Festival de Cannes), and have somewhat participated, French government agencies in Nigeria are known for financing creative cultural endeavours by Nigerians in the past.

    Through the Fonds Sud Cinéma established in 1984, several film projects from Africa, Asia, America, and eastern European countries like Albania, former Yugoslavia and the former Soviet Republics of central Asia, have benefited from the scheme.

    When, in 2012, the fund was replaced by Aide aux cinémas du monde (World Cinema Support) – it was to rejig the scheme as a fund dedicated to international co-productions – jointly created by the Ministry for Culture and Communication and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and managed by the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée (CNC) and the Institut français.

    Some of the Nigerian filmmakers that benefitted from the grant from France include Francis Onwochei who in 2006 got funding from the French Ministry of Foreign Cooperation to produce ‘Claws of The Lion,’ a story about HIV/AIDS. ‘Dog on Lion’s Trail’ (in the works) and the culturally acclaimed ‘Arugba’ by celebrated filmmaker, Tunde Kelani also received funding from France, just as Chike Ibekwe’s film, ‘Eternal’ about two faithful Nigerian friends and ECOMOG soldiers, which won the Golden Screen Best film prize at the 14th Ecrans Noire Film Festival in Cameroun was also funded by France.

    Although foreign film funding has been criticized in some quarters owing to the domineering tendencies of donors, it is safe to say that from the few examples of Nigerian films funded by France, it is a win-win situation for the beneficiaries and Nigeria, as the projects, if anything, are about social development and cultural values.

    While it is normal for France to promote French cinema through export support and close collaboration with the French cultural network abroad, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has continued to provide support to sectors with potential for bringing Africa to the international cultural scene. Nigeria belongs to this category, despite being an Anglophone African country.

    The caveat for the beneficiaries here is not about French language or culture, but about a STRONG AFRICAN CULTURAL IDENTITY for which Nigeria, ala Nollywood, is eminently qualified.

    Here are seven areas I think Nollywood can have a remarkable story to tell, from Macron’s visit:

    1. As President Macron is coming to Nigeria for business, one business that must be taken seriously is Nollywood – and this is so true because the Nigerian film industry has been described by government as a viable alternative to oil.
    2. It is therefore instructive for Macron to match this economic position with politics, and put it to our policy makers that there is no viable government agency in Nigeria that is clearly charged with promoting and supporting Nigerian films; like what UniFrance is to France and Kofilms to Korea. Every major film-producing nation in the world has an agency that supports and promotes it.
    3. We should let Macron know that our priorities are more for capacity building and co-productions than financial grant. And that we have a growing market where such co-productions can thrive.
    4. We must relay our long-standing challenges with piracy and see how we can jointly boost alternative means of distribution, and tackle the menace of piracy once we start doing business together.
    5. Macron, who would most likely be addressing senators and members of the House during his visit, must help us tell these politicians that one of the things that have been working well for his country is not playing politics with the creative sector. They must identify the challenges of this new oil well called Nollywood and evolve policies that will aid its growth.
    6. As it appears that the President of France has youth development and talks on cultural exchanges between the two countries in mind as agenda of his visit, it must be emphasized that the creative industry is a huge employer of labour in Nigeria, reason a boost through co-production and capacity building is a sign of better tomorrow.
    7. While his visit would involve talks on expanding current relations beyond security between the two nations, we are hoping that Macron who was able to convince French voters to elect him, not minding his young age, would be able to convince the National Assembly to give legislative backing to all bilateral agreements that would be signed between Nigeria and France during his visit.

  • Trump’s gambit Iran: World awaits decision on nuclear deal

    “Insane,” “ridiculous,” “worst deal ever” are some of the descriptions used by US President Donald Trump for the Iran nuclear agreement, which he has bitterly opposed since early in his campaign for the White House.

    The world will soon find out whether Trump’s rants about the 2015 deal will produce a concrete shift in US diplomacy, regarding one of the most important foreign policy issues of his presidency.

    Trump officially has until Saturday to decide whether to reintroduce US sanctions on Iran, which among other things could spell an end to the accord.

    But he has said he will announce his decision at 2.00 p.m. ( 1800 GMT ) on Tuesday.

    In January, Trump renewed waivers for US sanctions on Iran but warned that it was the last time he would do so unless several “disastrous flaws” in the agreement were addressed.

    His ultimatum triggered a 120-day period that ends this weekend.

    There is a growing consensus in the United States that his decision will effectively pull the US out of the deal, and that prospect has been accompanied by a range of speculation over what comes next.

    French President, Emmanuel Macron, said he didn’t know what Trump would decide.

    But after several meetings with the president over a three-day state visit recently he said: “My view is that he will get rid of this deal on his own for domestic reasons’’.

    “The president campaigned on getting out of the deal and I think that he’s going to do so,’’ Lieut.-Gen. William G Boykin said on Thursday on Fox News.

    Iranian leaders already have pledged to abandon the deal if the US withdraws.

    But it could remain in the deal with Britain, France and Germany, along with China and Russia, which have expressed their continued support.

    Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has warned that if Trump withdraws, it could risk war.

    Since Trump issued the ultimatum in January, U.S. and European negotiators have met a number of times to address US concerns within and beyond the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ), as the deal is formally known.

    The U.S. side has raised four main issues: Iran’s ballistic missile programme, its involvement in regional conflicts, inspection of Iranian nuclear sites and so-called sunset clauses.

    The sunset clauses, which let some restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme expire, have proved the most difficult of these.

    The U.S. claims that the clauses provide Iran with a pathway to building nuclear weapons over time.

    Trump has pushed the European partners to search for possible compromises.

    Determined to stay in the deal, the bloc has argued that abandoning it would not help address the ballistic weapons issue or Iran’s role in the region.

    “The JCPOA is a non-proliferation agreement.

    “Other issues of concern are addressed separately,’’ a senior EU official said on condition of anonymity.

    “If the deal falls apart, you would not be in any better position to tackle these issues.’’

    Furthermore, the deal is doing what it is supposed to do, by curbing Iran’s nuclear activities, the official noted.

    If the agreement falls apart and there’s no substitute, he said, it would “probably trigger a nuclear arms race in the region.’’

    The dramatic developments on the Korean Peninsula may also influence Trump’s thinking on the nuclear deal.

    Pulling out of the JCPOA could erode the trust he’s tried to build in the effort to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula, ahead of a planned meeting with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un; or it could send a strong message to Pyongyang that Trump is prepared to deliver on his threats.

    Domestic politics could likewise have a role to play, as Trump could be thinking about fulfilling a campaign promise ahead of the November mid-term elections to boost his Republican Party’s chances of maintaining its majority in Congress.

    In recent weeks, Trump has manoeuvred aggressively.

    Read Also: U.S. Ambassador to UN disapproves of Trump’s “communication style”

    He has changed his secretary of state, switching the moderate Rex Tillerson for the more hawkish Mike Pompeo, a fierce critic of the Iran deal.

    He has also brought in John Bolton, a foreign policy hawk, as his national security adviser.

    Pompeo met Israeli President, Benjamin Netanyahu, on his first foreign trip after taking office, stressing that if the Iran nuclear deal cannot be fixed, Trump will withdraw.

    The “full array of threats,’’ including Iran’s missile systems and support for militant groups in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen must be addressed as part of a revised agreement, he said.

    Pompeo also said documents that Netanyahu revealed April 30 show that Iran had a secret nuclear weapons programme for years and lied about it.

    “What this means is the deal was not constructed on a foundation of good faith or transparency,’’ Pompeo said.

    NAN

  • Macron attacks nationalism in speech to U.S Congress

    French President Emmanuel Macron has used his speech to the joint houses of the United States Congress to denounce nationalism and isolationism.

    Mr. Macron said such policies were a threat to global prosperity, the BBC reports.

    The speech was widely interpreted as a thinly veiled attack on U.S President, Donald Trump’s America First agenda.

    Mr. Macron also raised differences on global trade, Iran and the environment, seemingly in contrast to the warm bonhomie of his visit so far.

    The French president was given a three-minute standing ovation as he took his place in the chamber for his speech.

    He hailed the “unbreakable bonds” of the U.S and France, forged in “liberty, tolerance and equal rights.”

    He has developed a strong relationship with President Trump, and is in Washington as the first foreign leader to be afforded a U.S state visit by the Trump White House.

     

  • Macron to address joint session of NASS in July

    Macron to address joint session of NASS in July

    A joint session of the National Assembly, is to be addressed by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, when he visits Nigeria in early July, Ambassador of France to Nigeria Mr. Denys Gauer, has said.

    Gauer spoke during a visit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Yakubu Dogara, at the National Assembly Tuesday.

    President Macron has interest in the future and development of Nigeria, he said.

    According to him, Macron had worked in the French embassy in Abuja early in his career for six months some years ago and that whereas relations between the two countries in the last few years have centered on security, the French President hopes to use the visit to further deepen relations with Nigeria especially in areas such as youths, culture and creativity.

    Dogara in his response said that members of the Green Chamber and indeed the National Assembly will want to listen to the French President whom he described as “a man of our generation”.

    The Speaker further added: “He has brought a lot of youthful zest, dynamism charisma and appeal to French politics and we will want to yield the floor to him”

    Dogara while commending the French government for assisting Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists, pledged to give expeditious passage to all bilateral agreements that will be signed between Nigeria and France during Mr. Macron’s visit.

  • Macron warns battle against IS will continue for years

    Macron warns battle against IS will continue for years

    French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday warned that as the fight against Islamic State (IS) nears its end in Iraq and Syria, it will continue for years in other parts of the world.

    “We have won in al-Raqqa against Islamic State, and I firmly believe that in the coming weeks and months we will be completely victorious in military terms in the Iraqi-Syrian theatre.

    “But this fight will not end there, above all in many places, from the Horn of Africa to the Gulf, passing through South-East Asia and the Sahelo-Saharan region.

    “There are many areas where this fight will remain for years to come,’’ Macron said, while addressing French forces at the Mina Zayed naval base in Abu Dhabi.

    In October, Syrian Kurd-led forces, supported by the international U.S.-led alliance, captured Syria’s northern city of al-Raqqa, which was once the capital of Islamic State’s self-proclaimed caliphate in the country.

    Islamic State has lost more than 96 per cent of the territory that it once controlled in Iraq and Syria, according to the U.S-led coalition fighting the group.

    “Our challenge now is to rebuild peace once we have won the war against barbarism,’’ Macron said, who visited the permanent French base Mina Zayed as part of his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates.

    The base, established in 2009, hosts between 300 and 900 troops, sailors and airmen depending on rotations.

    Macron said it represents a “sign of a France that keeps its commitments to its allies.’’

    Read Also: French Senate to vote on security law as Macron addresses Police

  • French spokesman gets Macron ’s backing to lead party

    French spokesman gets Macron ’s backing to lead party

    French government spokesman, Christophe Castaner, said on Wednesday that President Emmanuel Macron was backing him to lead the year-old Republic on the Move (LREM) party that brought the president to victory earlier this year.

    If Castaner wins a Nov. 18 election for the party’s leadership, it could trigger a minor government reshuffle as he is a cabinet member in charge of relations with parliament.

    LREM won a large majority in parliamentary elections in June, consolidating Macron’s presidential win in May.
    Like Macron, most LREM lawmakers had never previously held elected office.

    “If he chose me and supported my candidacy in the collective talks we’re having, it’s because I’ve got the support of the party’s rank and file,” Castaner said on RTL radio.

    Previously a Socialist lawmaker from southwestern France, Castaner joined Macron’s campaign early as his spokesman.

    Since Macron’s victory, Castaner has become a familiar face on national television defending the president’s reform agenda.

    Thanks to Castaner’s Socialist roots, Macron’s backing for him could help counter recent criticism of Macron as a president of the rich for partially scrapping the wealth tax, a symbol of France’s income redistribution system cherished on the Left.

    The french goverment spokesman said that for the moment, no one else had put forward their candidacy to lead the party.

    NAN