Strengthening India-Nigeria Bilateral Co-Operation
NIGERIANS and many political observers around the world, see Retired General Mohammad Buhari, the April, 2015 democratically elected President of Nigeria as a leader with vision and focus, particularly with the excellent leadership role he played as a former military head of state between 1983 and 1985.
Since he assumed office in May 29th 2015, as the seventh civilian President of the country as a republic, many Nigerians see his frequent overseas travelling schedules with many government officials, costing the country billions of naira as a waste of money.
Whatever the views of the public about his travelling and official engagements with leaders outside the country, many of his friends and admirers in Nigeria support his administration’s move to panel bit, paint and rebrand the dented image of the country and her people, caused by corruption and unsecured activities of Boko Haram Islamic terrorist group, which for many years now stagnated development and economic growth of the country.
Considering the long existing relations and co-operation between India and Nigeria since independence in 1960, the recent visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the Federal Republic of India is timely and important to revive and improve bilateral co-operation between the two giant nations of Asia and Africa.
Leaders of both countries, as former British colonies and members of the Commonwealth group of Nations, should have good understanding of each other, walk together hand in hand for the common good of their people
President Buhari’s visit to India will definitely open up new grounds and create opportunities in vital sectors of the economy such as viz: Agriculture, Technology, Trade, Medicine, Education, Transportation etc, for mutual benefit and growth of the two nations.
Early post Independent era in Nigeria, when the country had only a few trained professional Teachers and medical Doctors, many Indian specialist Doctors and professional Teachers sent on Peace Corps to Nigeria, served in government hospitals, many Mission secondary schools and Federal government colleges in Nigeria.
The India Peace Corps who served during this era taught Mathematics and Science subjects in many Catholic secondary schools in the country particularly in the then Western Region. Many of the students taught at the time, are today well placed and are great assets to their families and the nation.
During this era of Indian Peace Corps service in Nigeria, many patients who went to the hospital for medical care, preferred to see and be attended to by an Indian Eye, Ear, Nose or Head specialist Doctor for adequate attention, diagnosis and proper drug prescription.
Many Renowned Indian Scientists and Academicians were lecturers and foundation staff members of many premium universities across the country. Many operated restaurants in Lagos the country’s first capital city and quite a number of them were big time textile and Electronics Merchants and Traders.
Since Independent, Nigeria and India have close military co-operation for capacity building and manpower development for national security and peace keeping in the West African region. Many Nigerian top military brass officers serving or retired today, at one time or the other in the history of their career had their training in India.
The new millennium South-South co-operation for development in Africa, calls for Nigeria to close up the friendship gap that may exist between the government and people of the two countries for peace and development.
Networking and exchange visit of professionals in the various sectors of the economy will in no small measure promote trade, establishment of small and medium scale businesses to reduce problems associated with unemployment of young graduates that may be facing the two countries.
As we celebrate the 55th year Independent anniversary of the country, the government and people of Nigeria, remember and wish to extend their gratitude and appreciations to all those young Indian Peace Corps, who left their families and homes to serve in Africa and are today part of the success story of a “United Nigeria.”
The sacrifice of your service and hard work is written in the sands of our time, your names are boldly written in GOLD and history will always remember you all.
We salute the courage and hard work of all the past leaders of Indian, men and women for the achievements recorded by this great nation, which other leaders in developing nations of the world particularly in the continent of Africa must emulate.
We extend our appreciation to President Pranab Mukherpee and all the good people of India for their hospitality and hands of friendship extended to the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. We pray for the success of the visit and hope that the meeting and discursions of the two leaders will enhance peace and rapid development in two nations and indeed in the black continent of Africa.