Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The French Government has shown interest in the Nigerian arts industry, expressing its willingness to collaborate with Nigeria in all areas connecting to that segment of the economy.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Nike Art Gallery exhibition, titled: “Harmony in Diversity,” at the Lycée Français Marcel Pagnol (French School) in Abuja at the weekend, the Chargé d’Affaires of France to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jean Francois Hasperue, said Nigeria has great potential in all fields of art and was already a force to reckon with 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 had been connecting French artists and their Nigerian counterparts by inviting them to France to some festivals in very different kind of fields of art, be it cinema, animation, e-sports as well 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 the arts. “Nigerians are great artists and they have proven it in the art market worldwide. They are quite at a high level,” he said.
He commended the French School in Abuja for its collaboration with the Nike Art Gallery, noting that it signifies all that France stands for in the area of art, and development young talents.
In his opening speech, the school principal, Mr. Alain Chassard, underscored the significance of the exhibition in fostering cultural exchange and collaboration between the French school and Nike Art Gallery.
He commended the efforts undertaken to familiarise the students with Nigerian arts, including immersive guided tours of the Abuja gallery, and expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the realisation of the cultural programme.
