President Tinubu seeks stronger ties with France in food security, energy, and education

President Bola Tinubu, during a high-profile meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, said Nigeria is committed to enhancing cooperation in key sectors such as food, security, energy, solid minerals, education, and defence.  Tinubu said this at a joint press conference after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the prestigious Palais des Llyse, France on Thursday, November 28.  The Presidents Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, highted the talking points from the conference in a statement titled Paris: President Tinubu urges more investments in food security, solid minerals, energy, and education. He said;  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 each anothers country. He underlined how Nigerias thriving financial sector may attract foreign investment, especially from French businesses, in the effort to increase food security.  Nigerias financial sector is evolving and flourishing. We are also creating grounds for investment in Nigerias economy for French nationals, especially in the area of food security.  It is our responsibility to put together a food security programme 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, he stated.  President Tinubu assured that Nigerias economy was being repositioned for more Foreign Direct Investment that will directly impact the livelihoods of the citizens.  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, he said.  The President implored the French government to extend to Nigeria training programmes that will develop the youthful population.  Furthermore, we should de-risk the opportunities in the solid minerals. We have the potential, and we have agreed on a deeper and deeper relationship, the President added. President Tinubu noted that Nigeria, like most African nations, had been preoccupied with tackling issues of food security.  A starved nation will not care about weather or environment, and in the 21st century, no child should go to bed hungry, he told the French President and his delegation. 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, President Tinubu said.On security, Tinubu noted that there was a need for collective responsibility to fight terrorism.  Nigeria is a partner in progress. We are ready to partner with France so that we can have security operations that will stop the challenge of migration, he noted.  The President said the blue economy in Nigeria also provides a huge opportunity for investment, with unexplored potential in fisheries. In Lagos, we have tamed the Atlantic Ocean. For us, fisheries are an important aspect of investment.  We want to assure the French investment community that Nigeria is open for business. It shall be easy in, and easy out, the President noted. President Macron acknowledged President Tinubus state visit as a milestone heralding deeper bilateral relationships, particularly emphasizing collaborative growth in creative industries and youth-focused initiatives.  He noted that the global humanitarian challenges could only be solved with governments working together.  We have confidence that you, Mr President, will reinforce our relationship with Nigeria, and it will cover the West Coast region, with ECOWAS playing the leading role.  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, he said.  President Macron had earlier assured that he would encourage more investments in the solid minerals sector, with the signing of an agreement during a political meeting where the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, made a presentation on the potential. The post President Tinubu seeks stronger ties with France in food security, energy, and education appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.