Tinubu Meets Otedola at Private Dinner in Paris

Ranti Thomas 2 months ago 2 min read

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met billionaire businessman Femi Otedola at a private dinner in Paris, France, as the President continues his stay in Europe.

Otedola disclosed the meeting on Tuesday, sharing a photograph of himself with Tinubu and describing the gathering as a private dinner held on Monday evening.

The businessman used the occasion to express support for the economic direction of the Tinubu administration, pointing to several financial and economic indicators he said showed progress.

Otedola highlighted the inclusion of Nigerian companies in the FTSE Russell Frontier 50 Index, gains recorded on the Nigerian Exchange and increased foreign direct investment.

He also pointed to what he described as renewed investor confidence and greater stability in the foreign exchange market.

The businessman said Nigeria’s foreign reserves were standing at about $55 billion, presenting the figure as another indicator of the changes taking place under the current administration.

Otedola described Tinubu’s economic reforms as bold and forward-looking and said the measures had placed the Nigerian economy on what he considered a path towards sustainable growth.

He concluded his message by expressing his personal support for the President, saying, “I remain proud of you, Mr. President.”

The meeting comes during Tinubu’s extended stay in Europe, where the President has held a number of engagements with political and business leaders.

Before meeting Otedola, Tinubu held a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on September 17. The two leaders discussed Nigeria-France relations and opportunities to deepen cooperation between both countries.

Tinubu has also met French businessman Vincent Bolloré and executives of the Bolloré Group in Paris as part of efforts to attract additional investment into Nigeria’s creative economy, digital sector and other areas.

The President’s European engagements have therefore included meetings focused on both diplomatic relations and investment, while his private dinner with Otedola has drawn attention because of the businessman’s public comments on the administration’s economic policies.