Alliance Française de Lagos has hosted its maiden Membership Networking Experience, bringing together professionals, entrepreneurs, academics and creatives to explore opportunities for collaboration, career development and cultural exchange.
The event, themed Beyond Networking, was held at the Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, and provided a platform for the institution to introduce its membership programme and encourage wider public participation in its activities.
Speaking at the event, the Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier, highlighted the importance of building meaningful professional relationships, describing networking as an essential tool for career advancement and business growth.
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He explained that effective networking went beyond exchanging business cards or social media contacts, stressing the importance of developing genuine and trustworthy relationships based on shared values.
Favier also highlighted the professional and economic opportunities associated with learning French, particularly for Nigerians seeking to engage with neighbouring Francophone countries.
He noted that Africa was central to the growth of the French-speaking world, projecting that by 2050, about 600 million people globally would speak French, with 90 per cent expected to live in Africa.
According to him, French proficiency could open opportunities in diplomacy, international relations, development, business and creative industries, including film and music.
He disclosed that the global Alliance Française network had 813 centres across 138 countries, with Nigeria hosting 10 centres, making it the second-largest network on the African continent.
The President of the Board of Alliance Française de Lagos, Abiola Williams-Otufale, said the membership initiative was designed to extend the institution's reach beyond its traditional community of artists, language students and cultural enthusiasts.
She explained that the organisation wanted to create an inclusive environment where people from different professional and cultural backgrounds could connect, exchange ideas and explore opportunities.
Williams-Otufale also highlighted the institution's language school, international examinations and cultural programmes, which include music performances, cinema, stage plays and conferences.
The Director of Alliance Française Lagos, Emmanuel Labrande, described the centre as more than a language-learning institution, noting that it served as a space for artistic expression, creativity and intellectual engagement.
He also acknowledged the support of businessman Mike Adenuga in making the centre's facility possible.
As part of the membership benefits, the institution's Head of Marketing, Precious Naador, said members would enjoy discounts from selected partner businesses, with plans to introduce exclusive cultural experiences and masterclasses.
She added that the organisation intended to expand its lifestyle and cultural offerings for members in the coming year.
The event also featured a guided tour of the centre's facilities, a presentation on its membership structure, an art exhibition by visual artist Osaji George and a musical performance by vocalist Ola Egbowon.
The exhibition explored themes of ancestral memory, heritage and the cultural significance of the Niger Delta through charcoal, pastel, video and sound.
The networking experience was designed to bring together the institution's different communities, including language students, professionals who use its workspace and library, and patrons of its cultural programmes.
Through the initiative, Alliance Française Lagos hopes to strengthen its membership community and position the centre as a meeting point for professional networking, cultural exchange and creative collaboration.
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