Spotlight Nigeria postponement and other engagements

5th edition of Spotlight Nigeria moved to 2021

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve all witnessed how rapidly the world has changed overnight, forcing countries to close borders in a bid to safeguard the health and wellbeing of their citizens.

Today, even as countries put in place measures to reopen their economies, cross-border travels and restrictions on large gatherings still persist as the fight against coronavirus continues. There is a general consensus that this approach will continue until a vaccine is available to allow for mass usage across the World. 

At Friends of Nigeria, the safety of our team, members, partners, beneficiaries and the general public is of uttermost importance to us. Previous editions of the Spotlight Nigeria Business and Investment Forum have attracted delegates from France, Nigeria and Ten (10) other countries.

The international nature of the forum has informed our decision to postpone Spotlight Nigeria 2020. We will continue to observe the general situation of the pandemic inorder to plan and organize subsequent editions.

Conseil Présidentiel pour l’Afrique (CPA) has been particularly mandated by President Emmanuel Macron to “meet the African diasporas in France and formulate concrete actions so that they could become the vanguard of the French-African relationship”. Thus,  the  CPA  has  begun  to  multiply  and  structure  its  ties  with  the  African diasporas in France, in order to better understand their needs and expectations, and therefore implement programs and initiatives that will benefit the African Diaspora in France positively. In this vein, the CPA is presently collaborating/partnering with a selected number of Diaspora organizations in France.

Friends of Nigeria (FON) has been selected by the CPA as a strategic partner. This partnership will ensure that the Nigerian Diaspora in France are part of initiatives and programs which are implemented for the African Diaspora in France. In line with this, FON becomes CPA’s main point of contact regarding information sharing for the Nigerian diaspora in France.

More information concerning these programs, actions, and initiatives will be communicated in due course.

Friends of Nigeria (FON) in partnership with the Nigeria-France Tech Initiative (NFTI) hosted a free online interactive discussion on April 17,2020 to help startups, entrepreneurs and businesses reposition for opportunities amidst global challenges. Panelists include representatives from organizations such as Google, First City Monument Bank Limited, AfriLabs, WeForGood.

Watch the recorded version here.

COVID-19 and HR Leadership: Leading Through and Beyond the Crisis

Joined by Olusola Adewole – Associate Director, People & Organization, Advisory, PwC Nigeria and Foluso Agbaje – Head, Human Resources, Jobberman Nigeria, the webinar focused on the role of HR leaders in leading their companies through this abrupt transition to remote working and strategies to begin implementing as the world adapts to a new way of working.

Watch the recorded version here.

Post COVID-19: Institutional Financing Opportunities for African startups

The Nigeria-France Tech Initiative (NFTI) hosted an online webinar on May 6, 2020. Dr. Modupe Irele (Ambassador of Nigeria to France; Founder – NFTI) gave an opening remark. Speakers were drawn from institutions such as the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), International Trade Center (ITC), Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Watch the webinar replay.

Diaspora Time Out with Honourable Abike Dabiri- Erewa (Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission – NIDCOM).

Friends of Nigeria (FON), Europe was honored to host Honorable Abike Dabiri-Erewa to discuss pertinent issues as it relates to the Nigerians in Diaspora on May 5, 2020. Discussions focused on salient issues such as Migration, Human Trafficking, Remittance, Investment, Data Management, Collaboration and Partnerships.

Watch the on-demand webinar replay.