Nigeria Embassy to showcase best of Nigerian culture in Paris

Nigeria’s arts and culture will take centre stage on Saturday, May 19, at Le Pavilion Dauphine, Paris, as the Nigerian Embassy in France is set to host the European business community and friends of Nigeria to an exhibition of some of the country’s finest art, cuisine, fashion, music, film and traditional games, on the platform of the ‘Nigerian Creative Arts Exchange’.

The Nigerian Creative Arts Exchange (NCAE), according to the organisers is a platform to demonstrate Nigeria’s interest in expanding economic and cultural bilateral relations with France, adding that it reinforces the similar commitment expressed last year when the French Prime Minister, Édouard Charles Philippe, received the Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in Paris; and previously, when former President Francois Hollande attended Nigeria’s centennial celebrations in Abuja.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos to announce the exhibition, Nigerian Ambassador to France, Dr. Modupe Irele noted the sentiment is underscored by the fact that France President, Emmanuel Macron, will be visiting Nigeria during to further strengthen France bilateral relations with Nigeria through trade and culture, stressing that Nigeria is France’s largest trading partner in Africa, with diversified exports spanning petroleum, pharmaceuticals, electronic and Agro-allied products.

She said, “Through the Nigerian Creative Arts Exchange we are thus creating a forum where participants can make enquiries, network and build useful links, in a relaxed setting.

It more importantly is a platform by which to harness the positive publicity created by these industries to stimulate broader interest in Nigeria and strengthen the foundation for investment in and trade with our country.”

“We invite participants to both experience the elements of Nigerian culture that will be on display, and to use the occasion to initiate conversations with representatives from the different industries, which will range from fashion to pharmaceuticals, agriculture to real estate, finance to tourism, amongst others. These together represent a wide array of trade opportunities.

“Our art, music, film, fashion and in recent times, our food too, have caught and received international attention and acclaim. They have shown that they are industries that