By Taiye Olayemi

The Indian community in Nigeria has expressed happiness over the conferment of the prestigious Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger(GCON), award on its home Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr Sanjay Srivastava, Founder of Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (OFBJP), Nigeria Chapter, in a statement on Sunday, said the award was a testament to Modi’s contributions to strengthening bilateral relations between India and Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that President Bola Tinubu on Sunday, during the Nigeria/India Bilateral meeting held in Abuja, conferred the national honour on the Indian Prime Minister.

Th president said that the award was bestowed on the Indian leader to signify Nigeria’s appreciation and commitment to the Nigerian-Indian partnership.

Queen Elizabeth is the only foreign dignitary to have received such honour in 1969.

NAN also reports that the Nigerian recognition is the 17th such international award conferred on PM Modi by a foreign country.

Srivastava said that Modi’s recognition was a significant milestone in India-Nigeria relations, reflecting his tireless efforts toward fostering cooperation and mutual understanding between the two nations.

“On behalf of the Indian community in Nigeria, along with the General Secretary of OFBJP Nigeria, Mr Pravin Kumar, and Vice Presidents Vikas Kane and Mr Sabir Ali, we extend our congratulations to PM Modi for this exceptional recognition.

“The Indian community in Nigeria sees PM Modi’s GCON honour as a moment of pride, recognising his dedication to promoting global cooperation and development.

“This award will undoubtedly further solidify the bond between India and Nigeria, paving the way for increased collaboration and mutual growth,” he said.

“After receiving the honour, Modi addressed a gathering of Indian diaspora in Abuja, where he dedicated the honour to the people of India and the resilient Indian community residing in Nigeria.

“Modi’s inspiring speech highlighted the enduring bond between India and Nigeria.

“Modi emphasised the need to further deepen strategic partnership across various sectors such as defence, energy, technology, trade, health and education.

“The Prime Minister also reflected on the remarkable progress achieved in the last decade, nurturing the shared vision of collaboration based on Bharatiya philosophy and values.”

He further quoted Modi as saying that honouring him with Nigeria’s National Award was an honour that belongs to the people of India.

“This honour belongs to all of you, Indians living here in Nigeria,” Modi was quoted as saying.

Srivastava, who is also the President of the Afro Asian Initiative for Community Development, noted that under Modi’s leadership, India had made significant strides in various sectors.

He said the growth had been in the area of economic development, digital revolution, international cooperation and many more.

“Initiatives like Jan Dhan, MUDRA Bank and Unified Pension Scheme have transformed India’s economic landscape, while programmes like BharatNet, DigiLocker and UMANG have bridged the digital divide and enhanced services,” he said. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin