France Expresses Willingness to Collaborate in Developing Art in Nigeria

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The French Government has shown interest in the Nigerian art industry, expressing its willingness to collaborate with Nigeria in all areas of art.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Nike Art Gallery exhibition titled ‘Harmony in Diversity’ at the Lycée Français Marcel Pagnol (French School) in Abuja weekend, the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of France to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jean Francois Hasperue, said Nigeria has great potentials in all fields of art and is already a force to recognize globally.

He said: “We have already a lot of collaboration between artists. Nigerian artists and the French embassy. We are supporting and promoting artists in Lagos through different programmes.”

Hasperue noted that the French government was willing to assist in nurturing young artists in Nigerian in order to help them to start their activities and to be well known .

He said the French Embassy in Nigeria has been connecting French artists with their Nigerian counterparts by inviting them to France for some festivals in very different kind of field of art be it cinema, animation, e-sports, as well as paintings.

He disclosed that France has different range of activities and partnership with Nigeria in art.

The envoy stated that Nigeria has no limitation in art, insisting that: “Nigerians are great artists to be honest and they have proven it in the art market world wide. They are quite at a high level.”

He commended the Lycée Français Marcel Pagnol (French School) in Abuja for its collaboration with the Nike Art Gallery, noting that this signifies all that France stands for in the area of art, developing young talents.

In his opening speech, the school principal, Mr. Alain Chassard, eloquently underscored the significance of the exhibition in fostering cultural exchange and collaboration between the French school and Nike Art Gallery.

He commended the tireless efforts undertaken to familiarize students with Nigerian art, including immersive guided tours of the Abuja gallery, and expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to the realization of the cultural extravaganza.