Paris: France supports increasing African presence in international institutions, including the UN and World Bank, the French president said on Thursday. Emmanuel Macron hosted his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu, in Paris, marking the first visit by a Nigerian president to France in over 20 years. According to Anadolu Agency, Macron emphasized the importance of Nigeria's role in global governance, highlighting its potential impact on international humanitarian law, climate change, global health, and ocean protection. He expressed France's commitment to facilitating Nigeria's involvement in global governance platforms. Macron stated that Paris is in favor of increased African representation in major international bodies such as the UN Security Council, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. He underscored Nigeria's rightful place in these institutions, advocating for a more inclusive global governance structure. The French president also praised Nigeria's ambition to be a key security and defense a ctor in the ECOWAS region, an endeavor that France is eager to support. Tinubu, who is also the chairman of the 15-member ECOWAS regional cooperation organization in West Africa, acknowledged France's support and reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to a free market economy, emphasizing the country's openness to business and international collaboration.