Follow Us on Google
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has intensified efforts to attract fresh investments into Nigeria’s creative and digital economy, seeking greater involvement by France-based Bolloré Group in film, entertainment, fibre optics and other technology-driven sectors.
Tinubu disclosed this on his verified X handle @officialABAT Friday after meeting with Vincent Bolloré and executives of the Bolloré Group in Paris, where he made a case for increased investment in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding cultural industries.
The President said the discussions centred on expanding the group’s investments in Nigeria through its interests and businesses spanning film, entertainment, telecommunications infrastructure and the digital economy.
He said Nigeria’s growing global cultural influence, particularly through Nollywood, Afrobeats, fashion and other creative industries, presented an opportunity to convert the country’s cultural prominence into sustainable economic gains, jobs and investment.
“Nigeria is having a remarkable cultural moment in the world. Our music fills stadiums across continents. Our films and stories are reaching new audiences. Nigerian creativity, fashion and culture are commanding global attention.
“We must turn this moment into lasting economic value for our people,” Tinubu said.
According to the President, Bolloré Group, through Canal+, MultiChoice, Universal Music and other businesses, was looking to deepen its presence and activities in Nigeria.
He said the group recognised Nigeria as the “arrowhead of Africa’s cultural awakening”, driven by the international appeal of Nollywood, Afrobeats and Nigerian culture.
Tinubu said his administration was particularly interested in ensuring that a greater share of the economic value generated by Nigerian creative talent was retained within the country.
He said this would require increased local production, investment in domestic creative industries and infrastructure, as well as the creation of more employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
“I want more of the value created by Nigerian talent to remain in Nigeria. More production at home. Greater investment in our local industries and infrastructure. More opportunities and jobs for our young people,” the President said.
Tinubu said he had consistently made the case for greater localisation in the country’s entertainment industry, including in his engagements with MultiChoice.
He maintained that the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms were designed to create conditions capable of attracting investment and supporting sustainable growth.
“Our reforms are creating the conditions for investment and growth. My responsibility is to ensure that these investments translate into real opportunities for Nigerians,” he said.
The President linked the engagement to his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the objective was to ensure that increased foreign investment translated into tangible economic opportunities for Nigerians.
The meeting came as Tinubu continues his engagements with international investors and business leaders during his visit to France, with the creative economy increasingly positioned by the administration as a potential driver of jobs, exports and foreign investment.
The President’s reference to Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music also underscores the breadth of the proposed investment discussions, spanning content production and distribution, music, entertainment and digital infrastructure.
The administration has repeatedly highlighted Nigeria’s large youth population, technology ecosystem and globally recognised creative industries as areas with potential to attract international capital and create employment.
Tinubu said the priority was to leverage Nigeria’s growing cultural influence to build stronger domestic production capacity and ensure that the economic benefits of the country’s creative success accrue increasingly to Nigerian businesses, workers and creators.
