President Bola Tinubu yesterday departed Nigeria for France, beginning a three-nation official visit that will also take him to Kenya and Rwanda.

The presidential aircraft took off from the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, marking the start of a diplomatic tour aimed at strengthening economic partnerships and attracting foreign investment.

Video footage from the departure ceremony showed the President arriving at the airport in a black SUV, where he was greeted on the red carpet by senior government officials.

He shook hands with dignitaries before proceeding towards the waiting Nigerian Air Force aircraft.

As President Tinubu boarded the plane via the red-carpeted stairs, members of the armed forces in camouflage and formal uniforms saluted while the aircraft prepared for takeoff.

The trip, rescheduled from Saturday, will see the President engage in high-level discussions in France before proceeding to Nairobi, Kenya, for the Africa-France Summit co-chaired by Presidents Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto.

According to the presidency, Tinubu’s first stop is France, after which he will travel to Nairobi to participate in the Africa–France Summit scheduled for May 11 to May 12.

The summit, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto, will focus on key issues including energy transition, climate action, digital transformation, and economic cooperation.

The president is also expected to engage with global leaders and investors during the summit as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s international economic ties.

From Kenya, Tinubu will proceed to Kigali, Rwanda, for the Africa CEO Forum holding from May 14 to May 15.

The forum will bring together top business leaders and policymakers to explore investment opportunities and strategies for driving economic growth across Africa.

The presidency said the visit underscores Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging high-level engagements to boost economic development and expand partnerships on the global stage.