INDIA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS 0F BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH NIGERIA
It was celebration galore yesterday, Monday 26th January as the Republic of India, through its Embassy in Nigeria commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of its bilateral relationship which predated Nigeria’s independence.
Mr. Mahesh Sachdev, the Host and High Commissioner of India in his address at the reception which also marked India’s 60th Republic Day who describe the relationship between India and Nigeria as ’50 years of fruitful friendship’ explains that the establishment of a diplomatic relation between India and Nigeria was a gesture of the Indian government to support Nigeria’s aspirations for national independence which was realized two years later.
“In the last fifty years, we have shared a vibrant and evolving relationship. Today, we are Nigeria’s second largest trading partners while Nigeria has become India’s first and major source hydrocarbons. There has also been rapid growth in people-to-people contacts and so the need to mark this strategic partnership” he added as he proposed a toast to the cream of diplomatic corps, Nigerian government officials and other guests.
One of the activities marking this half a century of Nigeria’s cordial bilateral relationship with India is the presentation of a special publication ‘India-Nigeria in focus’ by the Embassy and presented to the public by Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum and former OPEC Secretary-General who was Special guest at the event.
Representing the Nigerian government is the Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili who in her remarks before declaring open the photo exhibition, expresses the gratitude of Nigerian government and people to the Indian government revealed that India which had during her tenure as the DG of NAFDAC undertook the training of NAFDAC officials in India on drug regulation has also promised during a courtesy visit to her office earlier in the day to train staff of her Ministry in ICT. “It will be difficult for Nigeria to be one of the best 20 economies in the world in 2020 if we don’t embrace information and communication technology in which our Indian friends have grown to become a force to reckon with and so have promised to help Nigerian youth actualize their potentials” she said adding that the government of India has concluded plans to establish an ICT University in Nigeria.
In what appears to be the high point of the evening, guests at the dinner which includes the former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Part, Chief Tony Anenih among other top government functionaries and members of the diplomatic corps were treated to a classical and contemporary India music and dance by a 10 years old girl Sai Gargi who thrilled the entire audience with her scintillating dance steps and body movements.
It was celebration galore yesterday, Monday 26th January as the Republic of India, through its Embassy in Nigeria commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of its bilateral relationship which predated Nigeria’s independence.
Mr. Mahesh Sachdev, the Host and High Commissioner of India in his address at the reception which also marked India’s 60th Republic Day who describe the relationship between India and Nigeria as ’50 years of fruitful friendship’ explains that the establishment of a diplomatic relation between India and Nigeria was a gesture of the Indian government to support Nigeria’s aspirations for national independence which was realized two years later.
“In the last fifty years, we have shared a vibrant and evolving relationship. Today, we are Nigeria’s second largest trading partners while Nigeria has become India’s first and major source hydrocarbons. There has also been rapid growth in people-to-people contacts and so the need to mark this strategic partnership” he added as he proposed a toast to the cream of diplomatic corps, Nigerian government officials and other guests.
One of the activities marking this half a century of Nigeria’s cordial bilateral relationship with India is the presentation of a special publication ‘India-Nigeria in focus’ by the Embassy and presented to the public by Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum and former OPEC Secretary-General who was Special guest at the event.
Representing the Nigerian government is the Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili who in her remarks before declaring open the photo exhibition, expresses the gratitude of Nigerian government and people to the Indian government revealed that India which had during her tenure as the DG of NAFDAC undertook the training of NAFDAC officials in India on drug regulation has also promised during a courtesy visit to her office earlier in the day to train staff of her Ministry in ICT. “It will be difficult for Nigeria to be one of the best 20 economies in the world in 2020 if we don’t embrace information and communication technology in which our Indian friends have grown to become a force to reckon with and so have promised to help Nigerian youth actualize their potentials” she said adding that the government of India has concluded plans to establish an ICT University in Nigeria.
In what appears to be the high point of the evening, guests at the dinner which includes the former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Part, Chief Tony Anenih among other top government functionaries and members of the diplomatic corps were treated to a classical and contemporary India music and dance by a 10 years old girl Sai Gargi who thrilled the entire audience with her scintillating dance steps and body movements.
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