With a population of over 21 million in 2021, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. This country of contrasts is home to many prestigious international schools but also nearly 20% of the world's out-of-school children. Nigeria faces significant structural challenges that hinder success and equal opportunities. Additionally, the country is experiencing a severe economic crisis, exacerbated by new financial and monetary measures implemented since February 2023. This complex environment has impacted the Ministry of Education, which declared a state of emergency in 2022. In this context, the French Embassy implements a development strategy aligned with Nigeria's priorities in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and vocational training. The main goals are poverty reduction, job creation, and improving youth employability. The Embassy also strives to link French language proficiency with professional opportunities, as French is seen as a tool for facilitating communication with neighboring Francophone countries and expanding economic exchanges within the region. 

French was introduced as Nigeria's second official language in 1996, and the national education policy mandates its teaching at the secondary level. However, this seemingly favorable policy faces numerous challenges that impact students' French proficiency. Over the past 15 years, the French Embassy has launched several projects to train teachers and introduce new approaches to teaching French as a Foreign Language (FLE). A new French Language FEF project, launched in August 2024, aims to better connect the academic world with businesses, entrepreneurs, and representatives of Francophone companies. Two job fairs and French language conferences held in Lagos in 2023 and 2024 had already demonstrated public enthusiasm for such initiatives, as well as the need for more detailed and factual data on the perception of French. The study conducted by the IPSOS agency in February 2024 served as a catalyst to support the promotion of French as a language of employability. It confirmed Nigerians' interest in and motivation to learn French and helped identify strategies to facilitate its acquisition in an Anglophone country. It also helped unite the French team around a common cause, confirming the links between the linguistic and cultural network, the economic sector, youth training, and student mobility. 

The highly positive feedback on the image of France in Nigeria, as revealed by the IPSOS survey, also correlates with a favorable view of the French language. 62% of Nigerians surveyed stated that mastering French is essential abroad, particularly for communicating with Francophones worldwide. French is also seen as a beautiful language, associated with a certain social status, and as a potential tool for professional success. These positive responses will be highlighted across all future communication platforms, and in line with the development of the French language in Nigeria:  

• Banners, brochures, and social media posts from cultural and linguistic institutions (10 Alliances Françaises, the Institut français, and two French international schools)
• Posters and brochures in partner schools and the 15 universities selected for the FEF-R project on French for Specific Purposes (FOS)
• Branding and design for two upcoming Francophone job fairs (in Abuja and Port Harcourt).