Nigeria, France deepen cooperation in agribusiness

Nigeria and France are poised to strengthen their collaboration in agribusiness and food systems, identifying key areas for partnership to unlock Nigeria's vast agricultural potential. This focus emerged from the France-Nigeria Business & Human Capital Development Forum held in Lagos.

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You have not reached your potential in Nigeria. The potential is extraordinary. You should become, I think, the agri-food hub of Africa one day.

Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, highlighted that Nigeria has yet to realize its full potential as Africa's agri-food powerhouse. He stated that France could offer expertise in agricultural value chains, food preservation, processing, and distribution systems. "You have not reached your potential in Nigeria. The potential is extraordinary. You should become, I think, the agri-food hub of Africa one day," Fonbaustier said. He emphasized a spirit of "co-construction," respecting Nigeria's sovereignty while sharing French expertise in areas like "value-added chains, transformation and processing, the way to cool food and to store it, the way to process it and to distribute the food to markets."

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On this field, I think there is really a common ground, not for transfer but co-construction. I insist on co-construction, respecting the partner and the sovereignty of Nigeria.

Fonbaustier noted that modern agriculture extends beyond food production to encompass innovation, climate resilience, food security, and digital transformation. He pledged French support for Nigerian universities, researchers, start-ups, and businesses to drive innovation across the agricultural value chain. "French expertise in agri-tech, sustainable farming, logistics, and agro-processing can complement Nigeria’s immense agricultural potential to create more resilient food systems and stronger rural economies," he added.

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French expertise in agri-tech, sustainable farming, logistics, and agro-processing can complement Nigeria’s immense agricultural potential to create more resilient food systems and stronger rural economies.

Lagos Business School Dean, Prof. Olayinka David-West, echoed the sentiment, identifying agriculture as a critical sector for stronger bilateral ties. She mentioned the school's agribusiness programs and research initiatives aimed at addressing structural challenges affecting decision-making and productivity in the sector. David-West pointed out the "paucity of data in that sector that leads to wrong decisions, bad decisions, and mistakes," underscoring the need for stronger knowledge exchange and technical assistance to co-create effective structures and systems.

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Agriculture is one of them. As you know, we have the agribusiness programmes that we run. Yesterday, we had an event talking about agribusiness and data, and the paucity of data in that sector that leads to wrong decisions, bad decisions, and mistakes.