President Bola Tinubu, accompanied by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, arrived in Paris Wednesday evening for a three-day State Visit to France.
Tinubu’s visit, the fifth since assuming office 18 months ago, is at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron “ to fortify Nigeria-France relations,” the Presidency says.
Touching down at Orly Airport around 5:10 p.m., President Tinubu was welcomed with full military honours by the French Republican Guard.
The official engagements will begin on Thursday at the historic Les Invalides, where French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron will receive President Tinubu.
The visit will continue with a distinguished reception at the Palais de l’Élysée, honouring the Nigerian leader.
“The visit aims to enhance bilateral ties, focusing on key areas such as agriculture, security, education, health, youth engagement, innovation, and energy transition. It promises substantial benefits for Nigeria,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu commences state visit to Paris.’
In collaboration with President Macron, President Tinubu will address initiatives to boost youth exchange programs and enhance skills in automation, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
The visit also includes strategic political and diplomatic discussions on shared values concerning finance, solid minerals, trade and investment, and communication.
Additionally, both leaders will attend a session hosted by the France-Nigeria Business Council, coordinating private sector involvement in economic development.
Brigitte Macron and Nigeria’s First Lady will discuss empowering women, children, and vulnerable populations through Nigeria’s First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative.
President Tinubu and his wife will attend a state dinner hosted by the French President before departure.
France is Tinubu’s 32nd foreign trip since assuming office 18 months ago. It would also be his fifth trip to the European state.
So far, he has logged 131 days abroad, visiting 17 countries and accumulated about 278 flight hours.
Countries visited include Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; London, the United Kingdom (four times); Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; The Hague, Netherlands; Pretoria, South Africa; Accra, Ghana; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (twice); Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal and Doha, Qatar.