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France and Nigeria are zeroing in on agritech as the next major pillar of their economic partnership, with a focus on digital farming, climate resilience, and agricultural skills development.
The emphasis on agriculture emerged at the France-Nigeria Business and Human Capital Development Forum hosted by Lagos Business School in Lagos. The event brought together policymakers, academics, and business leaders to map out collaboration opportunities in innovation and food systems.
French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, said agriculture is central to the next phase of bilateral ties. He noted that while Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and entrepreneurial hub, France brings globally recognized expertise in sustainable agriculture and research.
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“Future collaboration will focus on building robust ecosystems, empowering individuals, and strengthening institutions, with agriculture identified as a key sector for innovation, climate resilience, and digital transformation,” Fonbaustier said.
He added that student mobility, academic exchanges, and scientific cooperation in agronomy and agri-tech will help deepen the partnership. “The future of France-Nigeria relations will not only be shaped through diplomacy, but also in laboratories, classrooms and partnerships,” he said.
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Dean of Lagos Business School, Professor Olayinka David-West, said the forum provides a platform to advance cooperation in agritech and food systems. She pointed to rapid technological advancement and climate pressures as reasons strategic partnerships in agriculture are now critical.
“France is recognised as a leading innovation hub, while Nigeria remains Africa’s largest economy and food market. There is tremendous potential for both countries to work together on agritech for mutual prosperity,” she said.
Professor Bongo Adi, Professor of Economics and Business Intelligence at LBS, listed food security and agribusiness as two of the five key drivers of the evolving France-Nigeria partnership. The others include AI, digital transformation, energy transition, and demographic changes.
Adi said Nigeria’s advantage lies in its large population, sizeable market, status as Africa’s technology hub, and its position as a gateway to the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
He identified agribusiness and food systems, AI-powered digital innovation in farming, climate transition, and research collaboration as critical areas for future cooperation. This includes tools like precision agriculture, data analytics for crop yields, and climate-smart technologies that can help Nigerian farmers adapt to changing weather patterns.
Both French and Nigerian stakeholders agreed that developing agricultural skills and research capacity will be key to unlocking agritech investment and scaling solutions across Nigeria’s food value chain.
