Le LAGOS FRANCAIS: FRENCH WEEK 2025 SET TO CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF FRANCO–NIGERIAN PARTNERSHIP

In the heart of Lagos, against the backdrop of a thriving bilateral relationship, key French and Nigerian officials gathered to announce a landmark celebration, ‘French Week 2025’. The event, which marks the 40th anniversary of the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), is expected to serve as a potent reminder of a collaboration that has grown to be a vital component of West Africa’s economic development.

Laurent Favier, the French Consul General in Lagos, Guillaume Niarfeix, the President of the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Maxime Bieliaeff, the Director of Business France and Commercial Counselor at the French Embassy, Xavier Echasseriau, the Regional Director of PROPARCO, Laura Marie, the Economic Counselor at the French Embassy in Lagos, and Moses Umoru, the Director General of the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, represented a united front of leadership at the press briefing, which was held at the Alliance Française Mike Adenuga Centre.

The promise of future partnerships, based on forty years of observable successes, permeated the atmosphere.

A partnership built on robust economic ties

The tone was established by Mr. Laurent Favier, the French Consul General in Lagos, who described the profound depth of the economic relationship. According to him, Nigeria accounts for a substantial 20% of France’s trade with sub-Saharan Africa, making it not just a partner but also the country’s top trading partner.

“This relationship between France and Nigeria transcends diplomacy, it extends into robust business landmarks,” Favier stated. “French businesses have found Nigeria not only a formidable market but also an innovation hub with limitless potential.”

The figures are striking, more than 100 French businesses have operations in Nigeria, generating thousands of indirect jobs in addition to over 16,000 direct jobs. The Consul General demonstrated his unwavering faith in the Nigerian market by highlighting significant investments from industry titans:

• TotalEnergies plans to invest a whopping $6 billion in Nigeria’s energy sector.

• Fanmilk Nigeria (a danone company) is expanding its footprint, recently commissioning a new production line in ibadan.

• Schneider Electric, with a new office building, Schneider Electric has reconfirmed its dedication to providing sustainable energy solutions to industries.

• SPIE Global services energy, in order to increase local content in the energy sector, has made an investment in local capacity by commissioning a technical training center in Port Harcourt.
  
  Investments do not flow in a single direction. In order to promote trade between Nigeria and Europe, Nigerian financial giants such as Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank, and UBA Group have established presence in France.

More than commerce: A foundation of supportive intuitions

Franco-Nigerian ecosystem is bolstered a network of benevolent organizations committed to long lasting development supports the. The Consul General cited the recent launch of the “OMI EKO” sustainable water transport project, which was financed by the European Investment Bank, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the EU, as a “perfect case” of this spirit of cooperation.

The FNCCI is in charge of this framework, and its president, Guillaume Niarfeix, has proudly referred to it as “the largest and most active bilateral chamber of commerce in Nigeria.” Niarfeix highlighted the Chamber’s distinctive role by stating that it is the only chamber with a formal startup support system and that its membership has increased to over 500 businesses.

As an example of the Chamber’s efforts to promote innovation and benefit its members, Niarfeix said “This year, we had two of those startups attend the VIVAtech showcase in Paris through the support of Air France,”

French week 2025, lining up a golden bridge for the next 40 years

The goal of the forthcoming French Week in Lagos, which is set for November 7–14, 2025, is to actively influence the future in addition to reflecting on the past. It is a reaffirmation of a shared commitment to the upcoming decades.

President Niarfeix announced an extensive schedule of powerful events aimed at igniting new relationships:

• November 7th is the opening ceremony (cocktail event): A distinguished event will open the week, laying the groundwork for the days of cooperation that lie ahead.

• Start-up Summit November 10th: An exclusive forum for the innovators and disruptors who will shape both economies’ futures, encouraging investment and technology transfer.

• November 13th is the main day of the week’s Business Forum, where investors, government officials, and companies from France and Nigeria will come together to exchange ideas, form alliances, and look for new growth opportunities.

• November 14th, Anniversary Gala & Awards Night: a spectacular celebration of 40 years of achievement that honors the businesses and people who have played a key role in creating this long-lasting bridge between the two countries.

A conclusion forged in partnership

The overwhelming message as the announcements came to an end was one of unwavering commitment to one another. More than just a set of activities, French Week 2025 is a strategic platform aimed at transforming forty years of trust into the next wave of innovation and prosperity for all.

The leaders’ remarks clearly demonstrated that the Franco-Nigerian partnership is a strong, resilient, and mature partnership. It has progressed from early exploration to deep structural integration, transferring technology, generating employment, and constructing sustainable infrastructure.

“As we celebrate 40 years of building bridges between France and Nigeria,” Niarfeix said, “we also look forward to the next 40 with optimism, collaboration, and the shared ambition to continue driving progress and prosperity for both nations.”

The Consul General’s forward-looking commitment echoed this sentiment: “The French Government remains firmly committed to strengthening this partnership… We’ll keep funding projects that advance economic expansion, technology transfer, and sustainable development.”

Lagos will be more than just a place to celebrate this November; it will serve as a testing ground for the future of this extraordinary collaboration. In order to make the upcoming chapter even more significant than the previous one, French Week 2025 serves as an open invitation to create, work together, and dream larger.