The Chairman of Nigeria’s BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, is promoting an expanded business partnership between Nigeria and France for mutual benefits.
He made the call on Monday when he led a team of Nigeria business leaders to a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and other French officials at Chateau de Versailles, outside of Paris.
Rabiu, who is the inaugural president of the French Nigeria Business Council, expressed optimism that – with better collaboration – his country and the European nation can both gain.
Addressing Macron and his team in an ornate chamber, Rabiu said: “Nigeria is blessed with abundant mineral resources” that be exploited to profit both France and Nigeria. He praised France for past support and commended Macron “for providing the leadership” to establish “a viable platform for business from both countries to partner and improve business ties.”
Also present at the business summit was the Director General of World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Members of the business council from Nigeria include Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Gilbert Chagoury, Tony Elumelu and Herbert Wigwe. French companies in Nigeria include Dassault, Danone, Axens, Ponticelli and TotalEnergies.