Indians laud Indo Nigerian ties

Indians in Nigeria have described the current bilateral relationship existing between their country and the host communities as cordial and mutually beneficial, promising that this would be sustained.

Making this pledge at the weekend was the Second Secretary (Consular) Subbu Ramesh. He spoke at a press conference to commemorate the 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention.

The convention is to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in 1915.

According to the Consular, “Non-resident Indians continue to play pivotal role in building links between India and Nigeria and make valuable contribution to the host government by providing employment opportunities, being the largest foreign employer in Nigeria.”

Indians in Nigeria have also been contributing to social causes both in Nigeria and back home, he said, even as he mentioned the invaluable contributions of the Indian Cultural Association (ICA) towards the Kerala Relief Fund.

Echoing similar sentiments at separate remarks, President of Indian Women’s Association (IWA), Geetika Tandon, ICA general scribe, Sanjeev Tandon, Atul Kshetry,  president of Indian Professionals’ Forum all observed that their brothers and sisters in Nigeria have continued to support developmental strides of the host government and home country, noting that efforts should be made to improve as well as sustain the existing bilateral relations between both countries.

The ICA scribe, who hinted of plans to invite Indian’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to Nigeria, said, “It will not only strengthen the relationship of the two countries but will also increase Indian businesses in Nigeria,” adding that, “We should also propose names of Indians based in Nigeria for the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman, an award constituted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to honour exceptional and meritorious contributions of non-resident Indians in their chosen fields.