INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited President Bola Tinubu to the BRICS Leaders’ Summit scheduled to hold in New Delhi from September 12 to 13, as India seeks to deepen its strategic relationship with Nigeria and strengthen cooperation among countries of the Global South.
News Point Nigeria reports that Abhishek Singh, Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, confirmed the invitation while speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.
“President of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has been invited to the BRICS Summit, which is going to take place in New Delhi in a few weeks from now, and we are very hopeful that the honourable president of Nigeria will be leading a high-powered delegation for the BRICS Summit very soon,” Singh said.
He explained that Nigeria’s participation as a BRICS partner country was important because of its economic and demographic significance to Africa and the wider international community.
“Why do we feel that Nigeria’s participation as a BRICS partner country is important? Because as Africa’s largest economy and one of the most populous nations in the world now, Nigeria as a partner country brings immense strategic importance,” the envoy said.
The High Commissioner noted that Nigeria and India continue to support each other at international forums, including their mutual aspirations for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Singh added that about 60,000 Indians live in Nigeria, many of whom, he said, are now deeply rooted in Nigerian culture, with some belonging to the second and third generations of Indian families in the country.
According to him, the Indian community has become an important bridge between the two countries in the areas of education, healthcare, culture and commerce.
Singh further disclosed that bilateral trade between Nigeria and India is now approaching $10 billion, with more than 200 Indian companies operating in Nigeria and nearly 100,000 Nigerians employed by Indian firms.
He said cooperation between the two countries was also expanding across several strategic sectors, including defence, energy, healthcare, agriculture and technology.
The Indian envoy noted that the BRICS Leaders’ Summit would further deepen the relationship between Abuja and New Delhi while providing opportunities for wider integration and cooperation among countries of the Global South.
