PARIS — A fresh chapter has opened in the relationship between Nigeria and France, as diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Paris continues to gain momentum under Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Emmanuel Macron.

At the centre of the latest development is Nigeria’s newly appointed Ambassador to France, His Excellency Emmanuel Ayodele Oke, who has formally assumed his diplomatic responsibilities after presenting his Letters of Credence to President Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

The appointment comes at an important moment in bilateral relations, with cooperation increasingly extending beyond traditional diplomacy into investment, trade, energy, security, education, technology, culture and the creative industries.

Ambassador Oke brings considerable diplomatic and governmental experience to the assignment. He has previously served in France and spent eight years at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, including as Special Adviser and Head of the Africa Department. He also served as Director-General at the Nigerian Presidency from 2013 to 2017.

His familiarity with France and its institutions could prove valuable as Nigeria seeks to convert growing political engagement into practical partnerships.

The Nigeria-France relationship has received considerable attention under President Tinubu, particularly because of his increasingly close engagement with President Macron.

Indeed, Paris featured prominently in Tinubu’s international diplomacy from the beginning of his presidency. His first foreign trip as President in 2023 was to France, where he participated in Macron’s Summit for a New Global Financial Pact.

In November 2024, Macron hosted Tinubu for a State Visit to France — the first visit by a Nigerian president to France since 2000. The visit focused on strengthening cooperation in areas including energy, defence, education, innovation and investment.

The relationship has remained active in 2026, with Tinubu making further visits to France and maintaining contact with Macron. In September, Macron received the Nigerian President for a private dinner at the Élysée Palace during Tinubu’s stay in Paris.

The repeated high-level engagements suggest that France has become an increasingly important partner in Nigeria’s international and economic diplomacy.

The challenge for the new ambassador will be to help translate the political goodwill between Abuja and Paris into measurable benefits for Nigeria.

Economic relations are already significant. The Nigerian Presidency has said bilateral trade reached $4.7 billion in 2025, while describing Nigeria as the leading destination for French investment in sub-Saharan Africa.

During Tinubu’s 2024 State Visit, the two countries also advanced cooperation covering sustainable investment, critical minerals, banking, culture and the creative industries.

France, for its part, continues to regard Nigeria as a major partner in West Africa because of its population, economic weight and regional influence.

For Ambassador Oke, therefore, the presentation of his credentials to President Macron is more than a formal diplomatic ceremony.

It comes at a time when relations between Abuja and Paris are gaining fresh momentum — giving Nigeria’s new representative an important opportunity to help turn presidential engagement and diplomatic goodwill into lasting partnerships, investment and opportunities for the people of both countries. The Nigerian communities and entities are welcomed to the embassy for the nation’s growth and development.