President Muhammadu Buhari delivered his address at the Opening Ceremony of Paris Peace Forum at the Grande Halle de la Villette Paris on November 11, 2018.
During his speech, President Buhari spoke about millions of Africans who fought in the trenches of the First World War for France and presented a speech on the effects of the illicit financial flows and corruption on the socio-economic development of countries.
The statement in parts read: “I am delighted to be part of the inaugural edition of the Paris Peace Forum and would like to commend the Government of France for this laudable initiative.
“We also thank France for inviting Nigeria to participate in the forum on the sidelines of the Centenary Celebration of the Armistice. It is important to recall that although Nigeria was not independent at the time, the fact remains that it had participated in the war efforts.
“Nigeria contributed a company of riflemen and support services to the war under the Royal West African Frontier Forces.
“I should like on this Remembrance Day, to pay tribute to the sacrifice and bravery of all those who had fallen in battle and the pain and suffering of those they left behind.
“More than half a million Africans fought in the trenches of the First World War for France alone. There was bitter fighting also in east and southern Africa and around Cameroon and Nigeria. We shall not forget.”