Tinubu Meets Otedola at Private Dinner in Paris as Businessman Praises Economic Reforms

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met billionaire businessman Femi Otedola at a private dinner in Paris, France, as the Nigerian leader continues his extended stay in Europe.

Otedola disclosed the meeting in a post on his official X account on Tuesday, sharing a photograph of himself with the President. He said the dinner took place on Monday evening and expressed his support for Tinubu’s economic policies.

Otedola described Tinubu’s reforms as bold and forward-looking, saying they had placed Nigeria’s economy on what he characterised as a path towards sustainable growth. He pointed to several economic indicators which, in his view, reflected progress under the administration.

Among the developments cited by the businessman were the inclusion of leading Nigerian companies in the FTSE Russell Frontier 50 Index, strong performance by the Nigerian Exchange, increased foreign direct investment and what he described as renewed investor confidence.

Otedola also highlighted what he called a more unified and stable foreign exchange market and said Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at about $55 billion. He concluded his message by expressing his continued support for the President.

The meeting took place during Tinubu’s extended stay in Europe. The President left Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency initially described as a three-week working vacation. He subsequently travelled from London to Paris, where he held engagements including a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The President’s prolonged absence from Nigeria has attracted political criticism, particularly following his decision not to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the gathering and delivered Nigeria’s national statement.

The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu remained engaged with government affairs while abroad and continued to receive briefings from officials. His return schedule was subsequently adjusted, with the Presidency saying he would return to Nigeria ahead of the country’s Independence Day activities.

Otedola’s meeting with Tinubu therefore comes against a wider backdrop of political debate over the administration’s economic reforms and the President’s extended stay outside Nigeria. However, details of what was discussed during the private dinner beyond Otedola’s public comments have not been disclosed.

Otedola’s assessment of the economy also represents his own view of the administration’s performance. While he cited market and economic indicators in support of his position, the dinner itself did not result in any publicly announced agreement, investment deal or new government policy.

For now, the meeting is notable primarily because of the public endorsement of Tinubu’s economic direction from one of Nigeria’s prominent businessmen and the timing of the encounter during the President’s stay in France.