Selling Nigerian travel, tourism, ahead of president Macron’s visit to Nigeria
President of France, Emmanuel Macron desires to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s travel, culture and youth sectors when he visits in July this year; this makes the Nigerian Creative Arts Exchange holding in Paris a strategic initiative.
The past few years have witnessed a remarkable growth in bilateral relations between France, one of the most powerful nations in the world and Nigeria. The cordial diplomatic relationship has led to some mutually beneficial feats in the area of security and economy.
Aside the efforts of France in helping Nigeria fight insurgency in the North East, following a security summit that brought together the leaders of Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad, and representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union on May 17, 2014, the Prime Minister of France, Bernard Cazeneuve, also received Yemi Osinbanjo, Nigeria’s Vice President, at his Hôtel de Matignon offices on 30 March, 2017, while he was visiting France to take part in the OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum.
These and several of such interactions are believed to have aided over 3.2 billion Euros in trade between the two nations, where Nigerian has interestingly benefitted in excess of 2 billion Euros.
While this is encouraging, expectations are rife that the relationship will generate more economic benefits with the proposed visit of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, who is scheduled to be in Nigeria sometime in July. But this can only be fruitful if Nigeria is well-positioned to reap the benefits that will accrue from such an epoch visitation. With Macron’s apparent interest in Nigeria’s culture sector, largely believed to have enormous potential for the Nigerian economy, this is undoubtedly the best time to flaunt that aspect of Nigeria’s national life that has constantly intrigued the world.
But how prepared is Nigeria to reap the bounty of this window of opportunity staring glaringly at her? This is where accolades should be rightly accorded to the Nigerian Mission in France, whose foresight is positioning the country’s travel and creative sectors in this direction.
Encouraged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Geoffrey Onyema, Modupe Irele, the Nigerian Ambassador to France, has initiated a cultural exchange that will flaunt some of the best in Nigeria’s arts and culture sector to the French community. Aptly tagged: Nigerian Creative and Arts Exchange, (NCAE) 2018 is being positioned to be a platform that will stimulate a partnership between Nigerians and their French counterparts, not only in the creative sector but also in business, hopefully boosting the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment).
According to Irele in her speech, NCAE will stimulate business interest amongst the French about Nigeria. “Initially, I had described the event as a ‘cultural extravaganza’, showcasing a selection of the best in Nigeria’s creative industry.
“Our art, music, film, fashion, and in recent times, our food too, have caught and received international attention and acclaim. They have shown that they are industries that can and in many cases already are successfully operating internationally, at the requisite high standards. Like many industries in Nigeria, they still remain full of opportunity and open to further investment. While this description does remain true, it is important to note that the event is not simply an opportunity to exhibit our culture or parade the talent we undoubtedly have in this country. It more importantly is a platform by which to harness the positive publicity created by these industries to stimulate broader interest in Nigeria and strengthen the foundation for investment in and trade with our country. We feel this platform will be particularly appreciated by our French counterparts whose country boasts some of the top cultural institutions in the world, and whose cultural and creative industries contribute an important part of its economy.
“Through the Nigerian Creative Arts Exchange, we are thus creating a forum where participants can make enquiries, network and build useful links, in a relaxed setting. We invite participants to both experience the elements of Nigerian culture that will be on display, and to use the occasion to initiate conversations with representatives from the different industries which will range from fashion to pharmaceuticals, agriculture to real estate, finance to tourism, amongst others. These together represent a wide array of trade opportunities.’’.
The NCAE which will showcase artistes drawn from visual arts, film, music, cuisine and fashion will be a two-day event taking place at Le Pavilion Dauphine, Paris, and Saint Clair.
So far the event has been getting an overwhelmingly reception as the various participating artistes see it as a veritable platform to drive home the Nigerian brand. One of the artistes, Adekunle Gold, a singer sees it as an opportunity to tell the world that Nigeria is unique and dominated by various interesting features.
According to him, “It will be an opportunity to show what Nigeria is made of. There will be music, fashion, and cuisine, and you know Nigeria has some of the best dishes anyone can think of’’.
Lanre Da Silva, Fashion designer, who will also be participating at the event equally sees the event in positive light. She says, ‘’When I got the call that I will be participating at the event, I was excited. It is actually a good opportunity to showcase what we have in Nigeria to the outside world. I will be there and my designs will be showcased at the event.’’
Other artistes who will be taking part in the event are: Nike Ekundaye of Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos; Ituen Bassey (Fashion); Orange Culture (Fashion); Andrea Iyamah (Fashion); Chef Fregz, and Kemi Lala Akindoju amongst others. Corporate supporters are also keying into this platform, realising how important a strategic partnership with France is in Nigeria’s economic life.
Stella Okoli of EMZOR Pharmaceuticals, one of the supporters amongst others like the Bank of Industry and Total, believes Nigeria can benefit a great deal from a cosy relationship with France in the area of pharmaceuticals. “France and Nigeria have come a long way, and honestly I see huge potential in the pharmaceutical industry with this event’’.
Mabel Ndagi of the Bank of Industry, says the platform is important for the bank as a government agency because the federal government is committed to tapping into other resources which are abundant in the cultural sector. “As a government institution’’, she says, “We are looking at platforms that will present investment and employment opportunities for Nigerians. NCAE is one of them’’.
Moses Umoru of Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, CCI France Nigeria, lauds the initiative and says it would help change the narrative about Nigeria which has often been negative in the international scene. “The perception of the Nigerian amongst international business people is not good at all. NCAE will change the narrative, especially at this time, when all we get to see and hear is the kidnap of the Dapchi Girls, amongst others. There are greater and more exciting things about Nigeria that is being talked about in the foreign circles and the Nigerian Creative Arts Exchange is one of such platforms to stimulate such discourse’’.
The French incidentally appear willing to work with Nigerians on this, judging from the comments of a French national, Carol Bossier who lives in Nigeria. According to her, culture remains the only way to change some of the prejudices that have tainted the Nigerian nation before the western world. “The perception about Nigeria outside is not totally right and culture is one of the ways to change this. It will paint Nigeria in positive light’’, she explains.
For some experts, Nigeria should be looking at the benefits inherent in this by considering how this effort will boost the existing economic ties which are showing positive balance sheets so far. France’s economic, cultural and educational projects are abundant in Nigeria and include: Bureau which supports French businesses in Nigeria, with the aid of the Business France office; Office which supports French imports and exports to Nigeria which currently services 120 businesses since it opened in 2016.
In the cultural scene, there are: French Institute; a French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) branch based in Ibadan; ten Alliances Françaises located in Lagos, Ibadan, Port-Harcourt, Owerri, Enugu, Jos, Kano, Maiduguri, Kaduna and Ilorin; a French school (Lycée) in Lagos; a French school in Abuja; and a business school in Port Harcourt.
With the diligence being appropriated to this initiative by the Nigerian Mission in Paris, one can only expect that better days are indeed here for Nigerian travel, culture and tourism from the French landscape.
IFEOMA OKEKE