President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria’s financial system is flourishing and evolving as his administration is “creating ground” for investors.
Tinubu stated this during a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron of France at the Palais de l’Élysée on Thursday.
Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi are in France for a three-day state visit on Macron’s invitation.
Special adviser on information and strategy to the president, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement that Tinubu told Macron that the federal government is preparing the ground for French nationals to invest in Nigeria’s economy.
“The French-Nigeria Business Forum is doing a lot already, but we need to do more on food security. We cannot help but invest in another’s country,” Tinubu was quoted as saying. Nigeria’s financial sector is evolving and flourishing. We are also creating grounds for investment in Nigeria’s economy for French nationals, especially in the area of food security.
“It is our responsibility to put together a food security program for the private sector to come and invest in the country. We are working on stability and we are getting closer and closer, but we can do better and better.
“I can assure you that Nigeria is open for business and close to this, we have a vibrant youth population that is educated, and ready to be trained in various areas of entrepreneurship and development,” the statement quoted the president to have said at the meeting.
Tinubu emphasised the significance of addressing food security in Nigeria, saying most African nations have been preoccupied with tackling issues of food security — with a significant impact on children’s development.
“A starved nation will not care about weather or environment, and in the 21st Century no child should go to bed hungry. If an African child is given a glass of milk in a class, there will be no problem in getting him to return and stay in school to learn. The more educated the children are, the better it is for us,” Tinubu said.
The statement also revealed that both nations had agreed to deepen collaborations in the mining sector.
“Furthermore, we should de-risk the opportunities in the solid minerals. We have the potentials and we have agreed on a deeper and deeper relationship,” Tinubu said.
Macron, on his part, acknowledged Tinubu’s state visit as a milestone heralding deeper bilateral relationships and said both countries will work together for collective and global success.
He reiterated the confidence the French government has in Tinubu, adding that they appreciate his visionary leadership in transforming Nigeria’s economy.
“We have confidence that you, Mr President, will strengthen our relationship with Nigeria, and it will cover the West Coast region, with ECOWAS playing the leading role,” Macron said.
“I will seek your leadership to work as partners of progress. You are the great leader of the great country in Africa. We appreciate your visionary leadership and energy in transforming the economy of your country. We will work together for collective, global success,” the French president added.
According to the statement, Macron had signed an agreement to encourage more investments in Nigeria’s solid mineral sector.
The deal was sealed during a meeting with Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals development, Onanuga said.
