President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron met for a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday, 17 September 2026, in an engagement highlighting the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France.

The meeting was disclosed on Friday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who shared photographs from the dinner on X.

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Onanuga said the engagement reflected the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France and their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Photographs from the evening showed Tinubu and Macron together at the dinner, with another image featuring Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron.

The dinner provided an informal setting for the two leaders to engage as Nigeria and France continue to pursue cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Nigeria and France maintain longstanding diplomatic relations covering areas including trade, investment, security, education and cultural exchange.

The Paris meeting also comes as the Nigerian government continues its diplomatic outreach and efforts to deepen international partnerships.

Although details of the private discussions were not immediately released, the Nigerian presidency’s account focused on the importance of the bilateral relationship and continued cooperation between the two countries.

The Élysée Palace dinner offered a more informal setting for the leaders’ engagement away from the formal structure of official bilateral talks.

The photographs released from Paris captured the two presidents during the gathering and provided a glimpse of the diplomatic encounter.

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The meeting further highlights the continued high-level contact between Nigeria and France as both countries seek to build on their longstanding partnership.