By Chindinma Iwuoha  

President Bola Tinubu will on Wednesday depart Abuja to France for a three-day state visit.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed in a statement that the visit is “in honour of an invitation from President Emmanuel Macron.”

The statement was titled ‘President Tinubu honours invitation for a state visit to France.’

He said, “The Nigerian leader’s three-day visit, which will focus on strengthening political, economic, and cultural relations and establishing more opportunities for partnership, particularly in agriculture, security, education, health, youth engagement and employment, innovation, and energy transition, promises significant benefits for Nigeria.”

President Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, will be received on Thursday at the 350-year-old French military museum, Les Invalides and Palais de l’Élysée, by Macron and his spouse, Brigitte, for initial ceremonies that will dovetail into bilateral meetings.

During the visit, President Tinubu and President Macron will harmonise positions on stimulating more interest in exchange programmes that focus on skill development for youths and improving their competencies in automation, entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership.

Onanuga said both leaders will participate in political and diplomatic meetings, highlighting shared values on finance, solid minerals, trade and investments, and communication.

They will also witness a session by the France-Nigeria Business Council, which oversees private sector participation in economic development.

Brigitte and Nigeria’s First Lady will discuss the latter’s passion for empowering women, children, and the most vulnerable through the Renewed Hope Initiative.

Tinubu and his wife will be hosted at a state dinner by the French leader before their departure.

France becomes Tinubu’s 32nd foreign trip since assuming office 18 months ago. It would also be his fifth trip to tne European state.

So far, he has logged 131 days abroad, visiting 17 countries and accumulated about 278 flight hours.

Countries visited include Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; London, the United Kingdom (four times); Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; The Hague, Netherlands; Pretoria, South Africa; Accra, Ghana; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (twice); Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal and Doha, Qatar.