Lagos played host to the third consecutive International Day of Francophonie, drawing hundreds of guests to the Alliance Française for a lively celebration of French heritage, culture, and global collaboration.
Organised by the Consulate General of France in Lagos in partnership with the Alliance Française, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Lagos, and the Embassy of Canada in Nigeria, the event featured film screenings, culinary exhibitions, musical performances, poetry recitals, 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 showcased to highlight French language and culture through cinema.
Speaking at the event, the Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier, noted that the celebration, held globally on March 20, highlights the significance of the French language, spoken by roughly 400 million people worldwide, with about 65 percent in Africa. He encouraged Nigeria to deepen its engagement with the language.
This year’s theme, “Un Monde à Venir” (Imagine the world of tomorrow), focuses on shaping the future through education, targeting students in Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Plateau, and Oyo states. Favier outlined the Francophonie’s core missions, including promoting French, fostering peace, democracy and human rights, supporting higher education and research, and encouraging sustainable development.
Over the past three years, initiatives have equipped schools and trained teachers to improve French proficiency. A Memorandum of Understanding was also 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, with plans for further expansion. Beyond books and films, we aim to equip people with language skills that can shape careers and opportunities,” Favier said. He added that Nigeria’s proximity to Francophone countries offers business opportunities in sectors such as film, music, and media.
Deputy High Commissioner of Canada in Nigeria, Carlos Rojas-Arbulu, highlighted that the Francophonie unites 90 states and governments to promote cultural exchange and diversity, noting strong interest in French among Nigerian youths, academics, and professionals seeking Francophone opportunities.
Consul General of Switzerland in Lagos, Conny Camenzind, expressed optimism about the growing enthusiasm for French among young Nigerians and encouraged its wider adoption.
The event concluded with the presentation of awards for La Compète, an inter-school competition showcasing French poetry, music, and debate. Wellspring College emerged first, followed by Riverbank Secondary School in second place, and Greensprings Secondary School, Lekki, in third.
