LAGOS, NIGERIA — The Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan-Atlantic University, in collaboration with the French Embassy in Nigeria, convened the landmark France–Nigeria Business & Human Capital Development Forum to deepen bilateral ties across commerce, technology, and executive education.
The high-profile event, held on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, gathered diplomatic envoys, development finance institutions, French corporate executives, policymakers, and leading academics to address critical growth sectors and cross-border innovation.
The forum commenced with a welcome address by the Dean of Lagos Business School, Professor Olayinka David-West, following opening introductions by the event host, Dr. Adejumoke Awolumate.
Delivering the keynote address, His Excellency Marc Fonbaustier, the Ambassador of France to Nigeria and Representative to ECOWAS, emphasized that the future of the bilateral relationship hinges on deliberate capacity building. Ambassador Fonbaustier highlighted strategic investments in youth skills, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and international mobility as the primary engines for sustainable economic transformation between both nations.
A central theme of the forum was the rapid integration of emerging technologies. In a strategic context presentation titled “France–Nigeria Economic Relations and the Future of Bilateral Collaboration,” Professor Bongo Adi explored how artificial intelligence and digital innovations can be leveraged to solve deep-seated developmental challenges while creating new economic corridors.
The event featured three high-level panel discussions mapping out actionable areas of cooperation:
- Economic Transformation: A panel moderated by Professor Adi, featuring Dean David-West and Ambassador Fonbaustier, focused on building institutional trust and shared vision. Agriculture emerged during the dialogue as a priority sector capable of driving sustainable, long-term growth.
- Strategic Sector Collaboration: Moderated by Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe, this session brought together key operational leaders, including Olanihun Gbolabo (Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems), Jacky Amprou, Sally A. Ibrahim (AFD Abuja), Kemisola Agbaoye (Expertise France), Emmanuelle Boulestreau (Regional Economic Office), and Maxime Bieliaeff (Business France). The panelists mapped out actionable public-private frameworks to boost agricultural systems and healthcare infrastructure.
- Education and Sustainable Development: The final session addressed technical capacity building and academic mobility. The panel featured Victor Banjo (Executive Education Director at LBS), Dr. John Onyebuchi (National Board for Technical Education), Owonikoko David (Campus France Nigeria), and Ogatcha Prudence (French Tech Lagos).
The forum, which drew notable attendance from top academic and business leaders including LBS Professor Chris Ogbechie and Professor Chantal Epie, concluded with closing remarks delivered by Victor Banjo, followed by a strategic networking session aimed at finalizing new institutional partnerships.
