The Franco -Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), has called for increased Franco-Nigerian business ties.
Director-general of the Chamber, Moses Umoru stated this during a French up your career event with the theme, ‘Working with France and in French, a springboard to success?’ held in Lagos, which featured job fairs, workshops, conferences and discussions on French as a springboard to employment.
Umoru noted that one of the purposes for the event was to celebrate French impact all over the world.
The DG disclosed that, the over 100 French companies were domiciled in Nigeria because opportunities for businesses to grow abound.
He pointed out that the Franco-Nigerian Chamber, had supported the growth of French-Nigeria business relations.
He recounted the high-impact initiatives being carried out by the Chamber including trade missions to France, high-level networking events, meetings with key government agencies and support for the Chamber’s start-ups.
Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Olivier Becht, said this years’ celebration is particularly significant, as it was held under the ‘Choose France’ communication campaign.
He added that, bilateral trade and economic ties between both countries have significantly grown over the years, saying Nigeria is France’s first trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for over 20 per cent of France’s trade with the region and remains among top investors to Nigeria, with over $10 billion in investment stocks.
Deputy head of the cultural service at the French Embassy, Sebastien Bede, who is also in charge of higher education and scientific cooperation, disclosed that, France is a destination willing to attract more Nigerians.
Bede talked about efforts at mobilizing more Nigerian scholars to study in France while establishing better relationship with Nigeria.
Bede said: “we want to build a long-term relationship and promote research and research centres.”
Bede emphasised building a strong relationship between the two countries through education.
President, MAAUN Group of Universities, Professor Adamu Gwarzo, encouraged Nigerians to learn French language as it is an added value.
The professor, who did his first degree, masters and Phd in France said it was important for Nigeria government to promote bilingual because Nigeria as a country, is surrounded by Francophone countries.
He noted that if one must make head way in other parts of the world, it was important to be bilingual, study French language to stay up beat.
He lamented that Nigerians were missing out in lots of opportunities due to lack of being to speak French.
He advised that the French Embassy and the cultural center should be encouraging activities like the French up your career event, where there will be displays, job fair, career prospects in French and more enlightenment on the opportunities.
The Professor advised that the federal government should encourage the teaching of French language in schools and improvement in the school curriculum.
