L-R: Olusanya Olakunle, Director, Fanmilk (Danone); Uhabia Ojike, Guillaume Niarfeix, President Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Denis Martin, Managing Director, CFAO Mobility Nigeria; Muyiwa Akinyemi, Deputy Managing Director, United Bank of Africa; Laurent Favier, Consul General of France in Lagos; Adobi Nwapa, Executive Director, Zenith Bank; and Innocent C. Ike, Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings, at the French Week 2025 Business Forum at Access Towers in Lagos.
The French Week Economic Summit 2025, which held recently convened senior government officials, business leaders, diplomats, and industry stakeholders with a unified call for stronger bilateral cooperation to advance sustainable economic growth across both nations.
Delivering the welcome remarks, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, President, France–Nigeria Business Council (FNBC) and Chairman, Access Holdings Plc, stressed the importance of reinforcing commercial ties between France and Nigeria through practical partnerships, strategic investment, and private-sector leadership.
The Summit, now in its third consecutive year at Access Towers, head office of Access Bank, was convened under the theme: “France–Nigeria Commercial Relations: Leveraging Partnership for Growth.”
Represented by Innocent Ike, Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings, Aig-Imoukhuede, noted that the Summit reflected the progress envisioned when President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the France–Nigeria Business Council in 2019 to foster practical, private-sector–led cooperation.
According to him, the FNBC has since evolved into a key platform for deepening partnerships across energy, infrastructure, finance, and culture, driven by shared values of innovation, sustainability, and inclusion.
Aig-Imoukhuede highlighted major ongoing bilateral projects, including the AGORA Project, a joint France–Africa initiative aimed at reimagining urban sustainability through green mobility, environmentally conscious infrastructure, and digital ecosystem integration.
He also presented updates on the Omi Eko Initiative, a collaboration between the Lagos State Government, French technical partners, and Nigerian private-sector institutions designed to restore and sustainably manage the Lagos Lagoon.
The initiative is projected to cut carbon emissions by 31,000 tons of CO₂ annually, mobilise over €60 million (₦100 billion) in green-infrastructure investments, and create more than 2,000 jobs across recycling, renewable energy, and sustainable tourism. He noted that Omi Eko illustrates how environmental restoration can serve as a catalyst for broad-based economic opportunity.
In her remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, announced a major development for the state’s economic landscape: The emergence of the Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC).
Designed to attract global financial institutions, drive foreign investment, and promote financial innovation, the Commissioner described the LIFC as a transformative platform.
“It will serve as a strong platform for global investors, innovators, and businesses to converge,” Ambrose-Medebem said. “Watch this space: by the time you return next year, I hope to share more about its formal launch and milestones achieved.”
She explained that the Summit provides a robust avenue for high-level dialogue, reinforcing the commitment of both nations to fostering cross-investment, creating bankable projects, and driving shared, sustainable growth.
This commitment is reflected in recent initiatives such as the Omi Eko Project, a €410 million Lagos State effort to modernise the city’s water transportation system through a network of safe, environmentally friendly, and efficient electric ferries.
Aig-Imoukhuede also underscored the potential of the creative sector as a strategic growth industry for France and Nigeria. He referenced ongoing cultural collaborations, including Creation Africa and the Tate Modern “Nigeria Modernism” Exhibition, that continue to elevate Nigerian creativity on the global stage. He urged investors and financial institutions to view the creative economy as both a viable export industry and a key driver of national identity and influence.
Addressing global climate transitions, Aig-Imoukhuede emphasised the need for expanded collaboration in renewable energy. He noted that France’s leadership in green technology, paired with Nigeria’s abundant natural resources, positions both nations for impactful joint investments in solar, hydro, wind, and cleaner gas solutions.
He encouraged Summit participants to move beyond dialogue and deliver measurable milestones and sustainable outcomes that benefit both countries.
Aig-Imoukhuede reaffirmed the commitment of the FNBC, the Franco–Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Access Holdings Plc to fostering deeper commercial ties and long-term economic cooperation between France and Nigeria.
He expressed confidence that the Summit would catalyse stronger partnerships, increased investments, and shared prosperity.
