InformationEducationCulture

Welcome to the Official Site

of the

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Paris, France.

This site contains links to information about

Nigeria’s rich and diverse cultures, tourism, news and a host other sites which carry other useful information on the nation.

INFORMATION,EDUCATION AND CULTURE

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Nigeria Facts

Other Nigerian students studying in France are mostly private sponsored and are at the graduate levels in schools outside Paris like INSEAD. The Mission collaborates with the French Ministry of Education to take advantage of educational awards, scholarships and grants to African countries. The University of Nancy II has on-going exchange programme with four Nigerian universities in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) area, notably Ibadan, Ife, Lagos and Lagos State University (LASU).

It is possible that the dearth of Nigerian students in the undergraduate level is due to the challenges encountered regardin entry qualifications and high tuition and upkeep fees. The common belief in France is that only Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) admission slips qualifies students for entry into Nigerian universities. Thus, they demand JAMB admission slips from prospective Nigerian students to French universities. Therefore, the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, has been advised to issue clear guidelines on entry qualifications into universities for prospective students.

In the area of culture, the French-Nigerian Association, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization in Europe-France (NIDOE-F), Media Organizations, Cultural Centres, Nigerian Cultural Associations, Tertiary Institutions and their students’ associations, and other relevant stakeholders, demonstrate appreciable interest in Nigerian culture. They organize shows, cultural exhibitions, music festivals, cuisine exhibition, art and sculpture, and photo exhibitions. They have continued to seek collaboration with the Mission. On its part, the Mission supports these events with material and human resources.

Most of the publications of the Mission, albeit pictorial, are advertised at such events and widely circulated to the French public for information on Nigerian culture. A number of Nigerian artists, namely: Asa; Swange Cultural Troupe from Benue State; and Abara Dance Troupe from Rivers State; to mention a few, have performed here and were welcomed with excitement.

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT:

MR. OBINNA AGBUGBA (MINISTER)

The section disseminates general information about Nigeria; promotes educational, scientific and technical exchanges, as well as cultural cooperation between Nigeria and France.

The general French public, together with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization have continued to demonstrate interest in information and developments in Nigeria. They seek on a regular basis, wide ranges of information on all aspects of Nigeria and the way of life of its peoples. The information covers economic and commercial; elections; rule of law; human rights; media and communications; contact persons; culture; geography, religion; education; and visa and consular matters; to mention a few. As promotional materials, the Mission publishes an annual Diary, a Newsletter/Guide, and constantly avails itself of opportunities in La Lettre Diplomatique (The Diplomatic Letter) to make favourable representations on Nigeria. These publications are displayed in the Mission’s Library for consultation and distributed to Headquarters in Abuja, Nigerian Diplomatic Missions, and the general public in France.

The guidelines for educational, scientific and technical exchanges between Nigeria and France focuses on teaching French language, cultural diversity, higher education and research, strengthening governance, and the rule of law. Pursuant to the above, Nigeria hosts two (2) French Cultural Centres; nine (9) French Alliances (L’Alliance Française); a French High School in Lagos; a French School in Abuja; and Business Schools in Port Harcourt and Kaduna. France is the fifth (5) country to host students from Nigeria (135 students over the period 2007 – 2008, including 35 French Government grants). A lot of French language students from Nigeria come to France, notably the University of Beacenson, for the one year abroad programme, although many of them are privately sponsored.