Nigeria's New Ambassador to France, Emmanuel Ayodele Oke, Takes Office in Paris
Emmanuel Ayodele Oke has officially taken up his duties as Nigeria’s Ambassador to France. He presented his letters of credence to President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris. NIDO France warmly welcomes Ambassador Oke and looks forward to working with the Embassy in support of the Nigerian community in France.
A seasoned diplomat who knows France well
Ambassador Oke is no stranger to France, having served there earlier in his career. He also spent eight years at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, where he was Special Adviser and Head of the Africa Department. From 2013 to 2017 he served as a Director-General in the Nigerian Presidency.
A relationship growing in scope
His arrival comes as ties between Nigeria and France broaden beyond traditional diplomacy into investment, trade, energy, security, education, technology, culture and the creative industries. Key milestones in recent years include:
- 2023 — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first foreign trip in office was to Paris, for the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact.
- November 2024 — A State Visit to France, the first by a Nigerian president since 2000, with cooperation agreed in energy, defence, education, innovation, investment, critical minerals, banking and culture.
- 2026 — Further visits by President Tinubu, including a private dinner hosted by President Macron at the Élysée in September.
According to the Nigerian Presidency, trade between the two countries reached $4.7 billion in 2025, and Nigeria is the leading destination for French investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
What it means for Nigerians in France
The new ambassador’s task will be to turn this high-level momentum into concrete results — including for the Nigerian diaspora, whose skills and networks are a natural bridge between the two countries. NIDO France stands ready to play its part.
Source: Ben Television — “A New Diplomatic Chapter Opens in Paris as Nigeria-France Ties Deepen” (6 October 2026).