Nigerian business chiefs, others meet President Macron

•As Glo signs deal with Nokia Alcatel-Lucent
One hundred and fifty global business leaders have attended the 2019 Choose France International Business Summit, which took place at the Chateau de Versailles, France, on Monday.

They included Globacom’s Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Mrs. Bella Disu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Dangote Group, Dr. Aliko Dangote and Chairman, Total, Mr. Patrick Jean Pouyanne.

The global chief executive officers who met with the French President, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, at a dinner organised to promote France’s attractiveness as a business environment, used the Summit to announce major investments and partnerships with French companies.

Mrs. Disu, who represented Nigeria’s foremost telecommunications company, Globacom, unveiled a deal with Nokia Alcatel-Lucent, a global telecom equipment manufacturing company.

The deal is to supply, install, and integrate a new Sure Pay Intelligent Network platform that will substantially enhance Globacom subscribers’ experience.

She also presented a Purchasing Order (P.O.) to Vocalcom Technology, another French company, to enhance Globacom’s Interactive Voice Response and Contact Center Solutions.

“These agreements are geared towards ensuring that Globacom continues to provide first-rate telecommunications services in the countries where we operate,” Mrs. Disu said.

Earlier on Monday, the Globacom EVC attended the inaugural meeting of the France-Nigeria Investment Club, which President Macron launched during his 2018 visit to Nigeria.

Fielding questions in an interview, Mrs. Disu described her engagements with global business leaders in France as impactful, adding that it was an important platform for exploring collaborations and business development.

“We have long chosen France, and we welcome every opportunity to expand our interests and alliances here,” she added.

The Mike Adenuga Group is reputed for its strong connections with France. Globacom and Conoil Producing Limited have had over a decade of strong business relationships with French companies, including Total and Alcatel, which is now Nokia Alcatel-Lucent.

The group of companies also powers the principal international French cultural organisation, Alliance Francaise, in Lagos.

During his state visit to Nigeria last year, the French President commissioned the state-of the-art Mike Adenuga Alliance Francaise Centre in Lagos, which the Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, donated to promote French and Nigerian cultures.