A don, Dr Ngozi Iloh, on Wednesday said that Nigeria should endeavour to reap bountifully in the areas of learning French and bilateral enterprise from President Emmanuel Macron’s visit.

Iloh, a lecturer, French Language Department, University of Benin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Macron’s visit to Nigeria should be exploited optimally for the arts and education sectors too.

“We should ensure to get the commitment of the President of France to helping improve French language reading, speaking and writing by supporting exchange programmes and with teaching aids.

“The arts too should gain from Macron’s visit by his commitment towards the support of enterprise in our entertainment and arts sub-sectors.

“This visit is an opportunity to improve our nation’s bilateral relations with France and the auspicious visit should be made to produce positive outcomes in our public affairs in all ramifications.

“I urge our Federal Government to also focus on `soft’ tools of diplomacy and development like arts, culture and educational opportunities aside security, military and policing affairs.

“Our goal should be to enhance trading relations between Nigerians and French citizens in all economic fronts,’’ she said.

Iloh said the visit ought to translate to more sponsorship and bursary awards to doctoral candidates in French language studies and politics to stimulate more citizens to the academics.

She said that security and the fight against insurgency in the country ought to also benefit from the French president’s presence in the country.

“Macron’s visit to our country will be measured by the concrete action plans that France will render to support us to grow our economy optimally,’’ she said.

Macron arrived Nigeria on Tuesday on a two-day visit to the country.

In Abuja on Tuesday, he paid a courtesy visit on President Muhammadu Buhari and they held talks on security and terrorism.

Both leaders also signed some agreements before Macron later in the day departed for Lagos, where he visited the Africa Shrine in Ikeja, and had other engagements in the state on Wednesday.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, had said the visit would support improved ties and trade relations between the two countries.

He said that the visit would further help to reinforce the French support to Nigeria in the areas of security, trade and cultural ties.

– Jul. 4, 2018 @ 15:55 GMT |