President Bola Tinubu praised the deepening economic partnership between Nigeria and France after bilateral trade reached $4.7 billion. Speaking at the 10th France‑Nigeria Business Council session on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, the president said the relationship has moved from diplomatic dialogue to concrete execution.
Tinubu’s comments, released through Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, highlighted Nigeria’s role as the leading destination for French investment in sub‑Saharan Africa. He urged that the growing trade volume be translated into jobs, industry, infrastructure and shared prosperity. “We are ready for investment that builds, capital that produces and enterprises that create jobs,” he said.
The summit, hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, gathered more than 30 African heads of state and senior business leaders to explore partnerships in innovation, trade, investment and sustainable development. The two‑day event marked the first time the longstanding Africa‑France forum was held in an English‑speaking African country that was never colonised by France.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, and France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, Nicolas Forissier, attended the council meeting. Tinubu commended France‑Nigeria Business Council chairman Aigboje Aig‑Imoukhuede for organising a productive dialogue that featured prominent entrepreneurs such as Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Wale Tinubu and Kola Karim, as well as senior executives from TotalEnergies, CMA CGM, Danone and Accor.
A notable outcome was the signing of an agreement between Accor and Shoreline Group to launch Nigeria’s first national hotel platform, which Tinubu described as a strong endorsement of the country’s hospitality and tourism potential. He added that the partnership exemplifies the new phase of “serious economic execution” between the two nations.
The president reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the business environment, supporting credible investors and implementing reforms aimed at making Nigeria a more stable, productive and competitive economy. “The message from the Africa Forward Summit is that Nigeria is ready, France is engaged, and the private sector in both countries is moving forward,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu concluded by projecting that the next chapter of Africa‑Europe relations will be written in factories, hotels, ports, energy projects, technology platforms, farms and new value chains. The summit’s outcomes suggest a momentum that could reshape bilateral trade and investment flows, positioning Nigeria as a pivotal hub for French capital in the region.
