by Michael Dibie
Nigeria and France have signed a landmark agreement which sees the Government of France injecting a hundred Million Euros into the nation’s I-DICE program.
The Agreement was signed by the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonnade and the Vice President of Nigeria represented by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani in Abuja.
The project aims to promote the employability of Nigerian youths between 15-35 years through the strengthening of key skills for the development of the creative and technological sectors with high economic potential. The programme is expected to train two million young people, whilst encouraging them to structure their own ecosystem, through access to financing for the creation of innovative businesses and start-ups.
France’s Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ms. Catherine Colonna at the official event highlighted France’s commitment to support youth, vocational training, and cultural and creative industries as strong drivers of the national economy.
“Digital technology and creative industries have indeed enormous potential to create jobs and spur economic growth in Nigeria,” she said.
She stated that the purpose of the programme is to enable Nigeria to boost the capacities of its very promising digital technology and creative industries and help thousands of young Nigerian entrepreneurs unleash their talents.
“Over the last four years, France has developed many projects and partnerships with professionals from the local technology, film, animation, and video-game industries as well as e-sports, fashion, and design” she added.
Colonna further disclosed plans by France to return to Nigeria the assets stolen from the country by Late General Sanni Abacha and his family, that have been frozen in France since 2021. She said her country will start discussions with the Nigerian government in order to allocate the $150 million stolen funds to development projects that will benefit the people of Nigeria.
The French Minister also met with some Nigerian partners in the fields of animation, video games, fashion, and design. It would be recalled that some of these partners attended the “Creation Africa” forum in Paris a few weeks ago, at the first international forum dedicated to African cultural and creative industries.