Emmanuel Macron stated that Nigeria’s desire to become “a key actor in global governance is necessary for all of us.”
The French president stated on Thursday that he supports increasing the presence of African countries in international organizations such as the UN and the World Bank.
Emmanuel Macron welcomed his Nigerian counterpart Bola Tinubu to Paris, marking the first visit by a Nigerian president to France in 20 years.
During a joint press conference with Tinubu, Macron referred to Nigeria’s business goals in France, saying, “Whether it’s in areas such as international humanitarian law, climate change, global health, or ocean preservation, your desire to become a key actor in global governance is essential for all of us.”
The French president added that Paris would “do everything possible to encourage a better inclusion of Nigeria in global governance platforms.”
Macron further emphasized: “Whether it’s in the UN Security Council, the management of the World Bank, or the International Monetary Fund, we support the strengthening of the presence of Africa’s great leaders, of their great countries, and you have a place in these institutions.”
The French president also praised Nigeria’s “desire to be a constructive security and defense actor across the entire ECOWAS region,” stating that this was “a determined ambition that France wishes to be part of.” Tinubu is also the president of ECOWAS, a regional cooperation organization of 15 West African countries.
Tinubu thanked France for its “commitments,” emphasizing that Nigeria was “open for business” with a free market economy.
