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Bennett Oghifo
France and Nigeria are looking for to deepen bilateral commerce and funding in agriculture and agribusiness, with each nations transferring to construct a structured platform able to connecting traders, companies, analysis establishments and authorities companies throughout the agricultural worth chain.
The initiative, being pushed via the newly established France-Nigeria Agribusiness Club (FNABC), is anticipated to facilitate funding, know-how switch, expertise improvement and market entry, whereas positioning Nigeria as a significant regional agri-food hub.
Speaking yesterday on the France-Nigeria High-Level Agribusiness Forum in Lagos, the French Consul General in Lagos, Mr Laurent Favier, stated the brand new platform was created to translate the rising financial relationship between each nations into concrete business alternatives and sustainable partnerships.
The discussion board, with the theme, “France-Nigeria: Driving Investments, Trade and Sustainable Growth,” introduced collectively representatives of the federal and state governments, traders, companies, monetary establishments, analysis organisations and different stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Favier stated the initiative was notably vital as a result of it was the primary main occasion organised by the France-Nigeria Agribusiness Council, established in July 2026, including that its success would finally be measured by the investments mobilised and enterprise alternatives created quite than the variety of conferences held.
He stated, “Agriculture is central to our bilateral economic partnership and to some of our most pressing shared challenges: food security and nutrition, economic diversification and job creation.”
According to him, Nigeria’s agricultural sector accounts for about 23 per cent of nationwide Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and helps near 70 per cent of the lively workforce, together with casual employment.
He famous that Nigeria additionally possesses about 70 million hectares of accessible arable land, six agro-ecological zones and a home market of greater than 230 million individuals, describing these as vital belongings able to reworking the nation into a significant regional agri-food hub.
However, Favier recognized insufficient entry to finance, agricultural inputs, mechanisation and irrigation, alongside post-harvest losses that steadily exceed 40 per cent, as main constraints to unlocking the sector’s potential.
He stated the challenges required an built-in method protecting the complete agricultural worth chain, from analysis, innovation and coaching to manufacturing, processing, storage, logistics and distribution.
Favier stated France and Nigeria possessed complementary strengths that may very well be harnessed to deal with the constraints, noting that France had internationally recognised experience in agricultural applied sciences, analysis, innovation, schooling, meals processing and sustainable farming, whereas Nigeria provided huge agricultural sources, entrepreneurial dynamism and a big shopper market.
“By combining these strengths, our two countries can develop partnerships that go beyond trade: partnerships that create local value, facilitate technology and knowledge transfer, develop skills and strengthen the competitiveness of both economies,” he stated.
The French envoy stated the initiative was additionally aligned with the renewed momentum in France-Nigeria relations following the Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi in May 2026.
He disclosed that bilateral commerce between France and Nigeria reached $4.7 billion in 2025, whereas greater than 100 French firms presently function in Nigeria, supporting over 16,000 direct jobs.
He stated the subsequent section of the connection ought to give attention to increasing cooperation in strategic sectors, notably agriculture and agribusiness.
The France-Nigeria Agribusiness Council, in keeping with him, was conceived by the French Embassy via its Regional Economic Service and Agricultural Counsellor as a devoted framework for structuring agricultural cooperation between companies and establishments in each nations.
He stated the robust participation of Nigerian and French companies demonstrated the demand for a platform that may allow stakeholders to attach, trade experience and develop partnerships.
The council operates underneath the umbrella of the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the Chief Executive Officer of JR Farms Group, Mr Olawale Rotimi Opeyemi, as its inaugural President and Mrs Aminata Niang Adam Traoré as Executive Secretary.
The platform is designed to deliver collectively producers, companies, traders, monetary establishments, universities, analysis and coaching centres and public authorities.
Favier stated the council would help collaboration in expertise improvement, scientific partnerships, technological innovation and the strengthening of agricultural worth chains, whereas serving to to mobilise funding, technical experience and institutional help.
Nigeria Targets Global Agribusiness Market
Presenting the membership’s technique, Opeyemi stated the FNABC was designed as a enterprise platform connecting French and Nigerian stakeholders throughout the agricultural and agri-food worth chains.
He stated the membership would supply strategic networking, enterprise and funding alternatives, worldwide commerce missions, business-to-business connections, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building alternatives for members.
The initiative can be concentrating on particular sectors with robust business potential, together with cassava and its derivatives, cashew and associated merchandise, meals and drinks, and agricultural improvements.
A serious part of the programme is the proposed Nigeria Pavilion on the Salon International de l’Agriculture (SIA) 2027 in Paris, which is anticipated to offer Nigerian agribusinesses with worldwide market publicity and direct entry to the French agricultural ecosystem.
The pavilion, branded “Nigeria – Cultiver l’avenir / From Farm to Future,” is deliberate as a 50-square-metre exhibition platform with 10 exhibitor modules, a personal 10-square-metre lounge for enterprise conferences and open entry on 4 sides.
The membership stated the pavilion would supply a platform for Nigerian producers and agribusinesses to showcase their merchandise, construct worldwide partnerships and discover export alternatives.
The initiative has already begun translating its technique into business partnerships, with three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between French and Nigerian organisations.
The agreements embrace a partnership between M2i and the Tomatoes and Orchard Producers Association of Nigeria (TOPAN), with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security additionally concerned; Lesaffre and the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN); and JR Farms and UniLaSalle.
The partnerships are anticipated to strengthen cooperation round agricultural manufacturing, meals processing, technical data and expertise improvement.
Favier stated France was able to help the event of the initiative, whereas congratulating the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, members of the Agribusiness Council and different companions for establishing the platform.
He careworn that the last word take a look at of the France-Nigeria agricultural partnership could be its capability to generate investments, create companies and develop financial alternatives.
“The success of France-Nigeria agricultural cooperation will be measured not by the number of meetings we organise, but by the partnerships we build, the investments we mobilise and the opportunities we create for businesses and communities in both countries,” he stated.
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