Nigeria and France have signed two agreements to boost infrastructure development and food security while Nigerian lenders Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa expanded their operations into France. Nigeria’s presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said on Friday that the deals, signed the previous day during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Paris, included a 300 million euro investment plan to support critical infrastructure, healthcare, transportation, agriculture, renewable energy and human capital development across Nigeria.
Nigeria’s finance minister Wale Edun and French economy minister Antoine Armand signed a letter of intent to facilitate the investments. Both nations also pledged to streamline trade and investment processes, Onanuga said in a statement. “The two countries committed to forge a strategic relationship in project implementation and enhance mutual trade and cross border services by removing fiscal barriers while protecting labour rights,” a joint statement said. In addition to the government-level agreements, Zenith Bank opened its doors in Paris, while UBA is set to follow after agreeing with the French authorities to commence operations in Paris, Onanuga said.
The official commissioning, which took place on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at 21 Rue de la paix, Paris, France was performed by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun. The opening of Zenith Bank, Paris, a Third-Country Branch (TCB) of Zenith Bank (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc, represents a key milestone in the bank’s global growth strategy and underscores its commitment to serving clients in the European region. Dignitaries at the ceremony include Governor, Kwara State & Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), His Excellency, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Governor, Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu; Governor, Ogun State, His Excellency, Adedapo Abiodun, CON; Governor, Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah; Chairman, BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, GCON; Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Chief Executive Officer/Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Nonye Ayeni, who joined Zenith Bank Executives in celebrating this significant milestone. The event highlighted the bank’s commitment to delivering exceptional financial solutions and fostering economic growth across the globe.
In her welcome address, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, thanked the Founder & Chairman, Dr. Jim ovia, CFR, for his inspiration and vision in setting up an award-winning and record-breaking brand. She also highlighted the rationale for the bank’s strategic move to Paris. According to her, “The opening of this Paris branch is part of the broad strategy of the Bank to extend its footprints across the major global financial centres and our efforts at following our customers’ businesses. Paris branch opening underpins the need to serve our customers and bolster trade and finance relationship between our customers in France and other countries. Zenith Bank’s expansion into France is a very strategic move as Nigeria accounts for 20% of France’s trade with Sub-saharan Africa according to the Franco-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Having successfully dominated large parts of Anglophone Africa, we will leverage Zenith Bank Paris operations to lead the Francophone market starting from Ivory Coast and Cameroun where we will be establishing subsidiaries very soon. This will facilitate business and trade flows between the African region and France, which is a major business partner to several African countries.”
UBA on its part said “As part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to France, the Chairman of UBA Group, Tony Elumelu in the presence of President Tinubu and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, signed a landmark business cooperation agreement with the French Finance Minister, Antoine Armand. The agreement is a significant indication of support by the French Government for the development of UBA’s full banking operations in France.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of UBA Group commented: “This partnership reinforces our commitment to seamless international banking services for our customers, not just across the 11 Francophone African countries we serve, but Africa as a whole; and French and European customers transacting with Africa. Expanding into France is a natural progression, with Paris serving as our European Union hub, as we continue to bring Africa and the world together, through innovative financial solutions. Paris will join London, New York and Dubai, as a critical component of our unique global network.”
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.
