By SCM Staff Writer I Monday, Oct., 20, 2025
LAGOS – High-level finance and diplomatic engagements converged in Lagos last week at the Création Africa 2025 Forum, marking a significant effort by the France–Nigeria Business Council (FNBC) and Access Holdings Plc to accelerate investment and collaboration in Africa’s burgeoning creative and digital economy.
The three-day forum, held from October 16–18, brought together over 3,000 young creatives, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from Anglophone and Francophone Africa to explore the nexus of “Technology Meets Creativity: Building Africa’s Creative Economy.” Organised by the French Embassy in Nigeria, the event underscored Paris’s strategic commitment to bolstering cultural and economic ties with the continent.
The event served as a platform for deepening France–Nigeria relations, a mission reaffirmed by Jean-Joël Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, who officially opened the forum. Minister Barrot’s visit highlighted France’s intention to strengthen cooperation, noting the FNBC as a critical platform for advancing bilateral trade and sustainable partnerships.
In a key bilateral development, discussions at a subsequent ministerial luncheon focused on France’s support for Nigeria’s sustainable development goals. The Minister highlighted the planned Euro400 million ‘Omi Eko Project,’ which aims to enhance Lagos’ urban infrastructure and environmental resilience, projecting a reduction of 31,000 tonnes of \text{CO}_2 annually.
The FNBC’s 9th Council Meeting also took place during the forum, chaired by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede CFR, Chairman of Access Holdings Plc.
Distinguished Nigerian and French business leaders focused on expanding investment cooperation, specifically citing the need to finance creative-industry infrastructure alongside partnerships in finance, agribusiness, energy, and technology.
Access Holdings Pushes Creative Financing
Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede commended the French Government’s commitment and emphasised the FNBC’s mission to serve as a “bridge of commerce and creativity.” He underscored the vital role of private-sector collaboration in accelerating investment and youth empowerment.
In an evening session titled, “From Idea to Business: How to Put Creativity at the Heart of the Game,” the Access Holdings Chairman advocated for a greater focus on nurturing African artistry into a formidable economic force.
“When I think about Africa and the future of our continent, two things come to mind, our youth and our creativity,” Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede stated.
“Africa is a cultural superpower, and our responsibility is to build systems that allow this creative energy to transform economies and shape the future of our continent.”
He stressed the common “DNA” between entrepreneurship and artistry—imagination, discipline, and the courage to create impact—and urged creatives to be brave in testing and refining their ideas based on consumer feedback.
As a co-sponsor, Access Holdings reaffirmed its strategic commitment to the sector. Beyond its core operations in banking, pensions, and insurance, the Group invests through initiatives like the Access Creative Hub and a recent collaboration with Tate Modern (London), celebrating Nigerian modernist arts.
Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede concluded, “Africa’s prosperity will be defined as much by our creative spirit as by our economic ambition.”
The French Minister, meanwhile, extended an invitation for FNBC members to participate in the forthcoming France–Africa Business Forum in Nairobi (2026), further solidifying the momentum for bilateral economic engagement.
