FrenchWeek 2025 Celebrates 40 Years of Innovation and Cross-Border Collaboration

November 14, 2025
Damilola Soyomokun
Events

FrenchWeek 2025 marked a milestone in Franco-Nigerian relations, celebrating 40 years of partnership with a focus on entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation. Central to the celebrations was the Startup Pitch Tournament, a showcase of Nigeria’s brightest startups and a testament to the growing influence of African innovation on global markets.

The opening address by Consul-General of France to Nigeria, Mr. Laurent Favier set the tone by emphasizing Nigeria’s central role in African technology. The country is home to five of Africa’s seven unicorns, operating across sectors including fintech, artificial intelligence, and climate solutions. By comparison, France, a long-established market, has twenty six unicorns. The speaker highlighted that these achievements are a result of ambition, execution, and resilience. Partnerships fostered through CCIFN and collaboration with the French Embassy have created bridges that allow Nigerian entrepreneurs to access global markets. Through mentorship, training, and strategic support, startups are equipped to expand internationally, strengthening both local and global economies.

The keynote addressed pressing questions for African entrepreneurship. Why is technology critical for startups? How can SMEs position themselves on the global stage? How can Africa leverage its 1.4 billion-strong population to drive innovation? The message was clear: technology is not merely a tool; it is a way to create measurable value. Mobile innovation and digital platforms allow businesses to address real problems, deliver seamless transactions, and build trust with customers and investors. African startups must focus on value creation, as this attracts investment and drives growth.

The importance of startups and technology is evident in Nigeria’s economy. In the first quarter of 2025, the digital economy, including ICT and financial services, contributed 14.19 percent of real GDP, equivalent to about N7 trillion out of N49.34 trillion. The ICT sector alone contributed 10.29 percent of nominal GDP, up from 9.25 percent in the same period in 2024, and real GDP contribution reached 11.18 percent in Q2 2025 with year-on-year growth of 6.61 percent. The digital economy overall is projected to contribute between 16 and 18 percent of GDP in 2025, with expectations to reach 21 percent by 2027. These figures underscore the growing impact of startups and technology on Nigeria’s economic landscape.

The panel session that followed provided practical insights from fintech, agritech, edtech, and investment experts. Muyiwa Matuluko of Business Front opened the discussion by highlighting regulatory challenges as one of the largest obstacles to financial sustainability. He emphasized that African SMEs must tell their story effectively to attract global investors, many of whom may not fully understand the Nigerian market.

Dolabomi from Flutterwave shared strategies for building on existing infrastructure and expanding across borders, noting that understanding compliance, regulations, and local practices is critical for success. Flutterwave’s recent mobile money partnership in Ghana was cited as an example of how strategic collaborations can facilitate seamless cross-border operations.

JR Farms explored the agritech sector, emphasizing food safety, regulatory compliance, and certification. He highlighted the need for resilience and adaptability to global frameworks, ensuring services meet international standards. Partech Africa emphasized the value of designing local products with global scalability, reminding attendees that even businesses operating primarily in Lagos can expand internationally when innovation and value are prioritized.

Kwame from EdTech addressed challenges in education and skills development, highlighting the importance of practical learning and access to infrastructure. He explained that technology alone is insufficient; startups must ensure skills and capacity are built alongside their products to support scalable ventures.

The energy in the room reached its peak during the Startup Pitch Tournament. Five finalists — Betapawa Solutions, Runteller, Better Brydge Technologies Limited, Scrub.io, and Optimus AI Labs — presented innovative solutions spanning fintech, artificial intelligence, and other emerging sectors. Each team demonstrated how African startups can solve real problems and scale to global markets.

In the end, Better Brydge Technologies Limited emerged as the winner. Operating in the fintech space, the company impressed judges with its innovative approach and potential for international impact. As part of their prize, the team will attend Vivatech 2026, supported by Air France, offering exposure, networking, and strategic growth opportunities.

The event reinforced a powerful message: African technology and entrepreneurship are leading, not catching up. By leveraging technology, strategic partnerships, and strong governance frameworks, startups are positioning themselves as global players. CCIFN continues to play a vital role in mentoring, connecting, and supporting these startups, ensuring that Africa’s innovation ecosystem thrives.

From keynote speeches to panel discussions and startup pitches, the gathering highlighted critical success factors: value creation, scalability, regulatory compliance, and strategic collaboration. African entrepreneurs are proving that local solutions can achieve global impact, and innovation, resilience, and vision are essential for success in cross-border trade. The insights shared, connections forged, and innovations presented will resonate far beyond Lagos. Nigerian startups are charting a path from local markets to international influence, showing that Africa is ready not just to participate in global trade, but to shape it