Language and cultural diplomacy took the spotlight in Lagos as the International Day of Francophonie returned for the third consecutive year, drawing hundreds of guests to the Alliance Française Lagos for a vibrant celebration of French heritage and global collaboration.

The event, organised by the Consulate General of France in Lagos in partnership with the Alliance Française, Consulate General of Switzerland in Lagos and the Embassy of Canada in Nigeria, featured film screenings, culinary exhibitions, musical performances, poetry renditions, networking sessions and a student competition.

Three films, Un monde merveilleux (A Wonderful World) by Giulio Callegari, Une Colonie (A Colony) by Geneviève Dulude-De Celles and Tambour battant by François-Christophe Marzal, were screened as part of efforts to showcase French language and culture through cinema.

Speaking at the event, the Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier, said the annual celebration, marked globally on March 20, underscores the importance of the French language, which has about 400 million speakers worldwide.

He noted that approximately 65 percent of French speakers are in Africa, stressing the need for Nigeria to deepen its engagement with the language.

According to him, the theme for this year, “Un Monde à Venir” (Imagine the world of tomorrow), is focused on shaping the future through education, particularly targeting students across five states—Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Plateau and Oyo. Favier outlined the core missions of the Francophonie to include promoting the French language, fostering peace, democracy and human rights, supporting higher education and research, and encouraging sustainable development.

He further disclosed that in the last three years, initiatives have been undertaken to equip schools and train teachers to improve proficiency in French. He added that a Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed between the University of Caen Normandy and the Nigerian French Language Village to enable the award of master’s degrees locally.

“We now have 22 Nigerian universities as part of our French Research Centre, and the goal is to expand further. Beyond promoting books and films, we aim to equip people with language skills that can shape careers and other aspects of life,” he said.

Favier also noted that Nigeria’s proximity to several French-speaking countries presents opportunities for business expansion and growth in sectors such as film, music and media.

In his remarks, the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada in Nigeria, Carlos Rojas-Arbulu, said the Francophonie brings together 90 states and governments, promoting diversity and cultural exchange.

He added that interest in the French language in Nigeria remains strong, particularly among youths, academics and business professionals seeking opportunities within Francophone markets.

Also speaking, the Consul General of Switzerland in Lagos, Conny Camenzind, expressed optimism over the growing enthusiasm for the French language among young Nigerians and called for its wider adoption.

The event climaxed with the presentation of awards to winners of La Compète, an inter-school competition showcasing students’ talents in French poetry, music and debate.

Wellspring College emerged winner, while Riverbank Secondary School and Greensprings Secondary School, Lekki, came second and third respectively.

https://meet.google.com/call?authuser=3&hl=en&mc=KAIwAZoBFDoScGludG9fejg0eWR4cW1pZWkxogE7GgIQADICUAA6AhABSgQIARABWgIIAGoCCAFyAggBegIIAogBAJIBAhABmgEEGAEgAKIBAhAA4gECCACyAQcYAyAAKgEzwgECIAHYAQE&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com&iilm=1774077091307