Emmanuel Macron of France has appointed kano-born billionaire businessman, Abdulsamad Rabiu, as the President of France-Nigeria Business Council,
Emmanuel Macron of France has appointed kano-born billionaire businessman, Abdulsamad Rabiu, as the President of France-Nigeria Business Council, a private sector initiative to enhance business relations between the two countries.
Mr Rabiu, who is the Founder/Chairman of BUA Group Nigeria, was appointed as the inaugural President of the council at a business summit in France.
The newly inaugurated council also has Gilbert Chagoury of Chagoury Group, Mike Adenuga of Globacom and Conoil, Aliko Dangote of Dangote Industries, Tony Elumelu, Chairman UBA & Heirs Holdings, and Herbert Wigwe, CEO, Access Bank as the Nigerian members of the council.
Companies like Dassault, Danone, Axens, Ponticelli, and Total Energies which make up France’s biggest companies, are also members of the council.
Thanking Macron for the appointment, Rabiu pledged to use the platform to create better opportunities for businesses on both sides.
He also thanked President Macron for his vision in creating the French Nigeria Business Council which has led to a reset in the business relationship between Nigeria and France and has created a viable platform for business from both countries to partner and improve business ties.
Rabiu said:
“Nigeria is blessed with numerous potentials for French companies to do business across different areas, notably solid minerals, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, associated equipment, power, food processing, and even in the business of associated equipment or infrastructure for the value chains of these sectors”.
“Where French businesses have formerly been risk-averse or outrightly unable to do business with Africa’s largest economy, they can now be assured of a platform through which they can penetrate and mutually grow the market. Where Nigerian companies had not seen French companies or the French market as a viable destination due to a lack of information, they can now be sure of a platform to facilitate this. This is all thanks to President Macron’s foresight and vision.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria received the news with gladdness and has since congratulated Rabiu.
The President, in a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina, said the appointment of the BUA Chairman, after the inauguration of the France-Nigeria Business Council, further highlighted the warm and growing relations between both countries typified by the strong partnership at different levels, including security, education, and health.
Buhari congratulated the business community for a successful outing at the Choose France Summit which held at Chateau de Versailles, outside of Paris.
