The French Embassy in Nigeria Marks the 2024 France Alumni Day with a Conference and a Job Fair
The second edition of France Alumni Day organized by the French Embassy in Nigeria and Campus France Nigeria witnessed a large turnout of Nigerians who studied in France, graduates, corps members, and students seeking multilingual leverage and professional opportunities. It was held on the 18th of May 2024 at Alliance Française/Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi-Lagos featuring a conference, Job Fair, and cocktail with the presence of Mr. Laurent Favier, the Consul General of France in Lagos.
Under the theme "French-speaking talents and global careers," the conference brought together 120 students in the Alliance française auditorium, which was full. There were interesting, enriching, and inspiring exchanges between the Alumni and students, notably on the place of the French language in Africa, as well as on the values and working methods they experienced and learned in France. Among the notable speakers were :
Mrs. Rinret Daniel Meshak who is a deputy superintendent at Nigeria Immigration, Mr. Khalifa Bello who is currently the principal planning officer at TETFUND, Mrs. Zainab Gimba-Eniola who founded 8689 Apparel, and Mr. Joseph Ajilore who formerly worked with Total Energies. They shared their experience studying in France and how the academic, cultural, and linguistic exposures gained during this period of their life shaped their professional trajectories upon their return to Nigeria.
Furthermore, the Job Fair featured ten companies with over 100 participants. These companies are Bureau Veritas, Jobberman, SPIE, Asseco, Leadway Assurance, Center for Democracy and Development, Tincan Island Container Terminal, Newrest Nigeria, Hiro & Ronu Hotel, and CFAO. Participants at the Job Fair met with their representatives to discover available professional opportunities and effective steps they can take to maximize them.
Being an event designed to celebrate the international study opportunity in France and the exposure it promises to international students, three alumni who have founded their startups in Nigeria exhibited their products and services. 8689 Apparel which was founded by Zainab Gimba-Eniola who studied at ESMOD Fashion Design displayed fashionable wears inspired by the unique African print and youth culture style while Ma Petite France which is a bookshop selling books displayed French novels and novels translated into French, and learning resources for French language. Nicotawines displayed wine and welcomed participants to have a taste of different wines that is expected to transform the gastronomic experience of Nigeria in the future. Ehichioya Nicholas Isesele, an alumnus of INSEEC, who is the founder explains that he intends to introduce variety of wines to the Nigerian market.
The success of France Alumni Day has affirmed the growing interest of Nigerians in France as a study destination. The France Alumni Day, which is the initiative of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, which was marked for the first time in 2023, celebrates more than one thousand Nigerians who have chosen France for its academic excellence, innovative research, international exposure, and language opportunities.
Actualités recommandées
