President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged lighthearted greetings on social media on Thursday, with both leaders communicating in pidgin English.
Tinubu arrived in France on Wednesday evening for a state visit.
After a meeting on Thursday, Macron reminisced about his days at the French embassy in Nigeria as an intern.
Writing on X in Nigerian Pidgin, an English-based creole language spoken as a lingua franca, the French president gushed over Tinubu’s visit.
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“Na big honor for France, dear President Bola Tinubu @officialABAT, to welcome you for dis State visit as one big partner and friend of today and tomorrow,” Macron wrote.
“E still dey sweet me well well as I remember say I be young intern for French Embassy for Nigeria that time.”
Reciprocating the friendly exchange, Tinubu began by thanking Macron in French and added that the opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations is exciting.
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“Merci beaucoup, President Macron @EmmanuelMacron,” Tinubu wrote.
“Na big privilege to dey strengthen dis bond wey join Nigeria and France together. E sweet me well well to hear say di memories of your time as young intern for Nigeria still dey inspire you.”
The Nigerian president urged his French counterpart to jointly prioritise mutual respect and equality with him while building partnerships.
“E show say di connection between our two countries strong and go continue dey strong,” Tinubu added.
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“We must to continue dey build dis our partnership wey stand for mutual respect and equality, wey go help di dreams of our people today and create better future for tomorrow. Thanks for di warm welcome and fruitful meetings, my paid!”
Tinubu’s post also had an accompanying French translation.
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