Throwing accolades on the contributions of the Indian community towards Nigeria's development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Indians never forget their values even as they chase the global common good.
"You all haven't given only hard work and efforts to Nigeria, but also your hearts to Nigeria.". The Indian community here always stood by Nigeria in its joys and sorrows. Here, there are many Indian doctors who serve the people of Nigeria, said PM Modi while interacting with the Indian diaspora at a community event in Abuja before wrapping up his State Visit to the West African nation – the first by an Indian PM in 17 years.
Even if we go to other countries, we never forget our values that serve the greater good. We are those people who have lived for centuries with values that consider the whole world as one family. For us, the entire world is one family. The pride you have brought to Indian culture in Nigeria is evident everywhere. Yoga is becoming increasingly popular among the people here…," he added.
The 60,000-strong Indian diaspora in Nigeria is the biggest in West Africa, promising people-to-people contact between the two countries for decades to come. Prime Minister Modi met hundreds of Indians just minutes after holding bilateral talks with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu after which he was conferred the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
Prime Minister Modi became the first foreign leader to receive Nigeria's national honor since 1969. "President Tinubu has honored me with Nigeria's National Award. This honor belongs to the people of India.
This honour belongs to all of you-Indians residing here in Nigeria,' he said. It is stepping out of the comfort zone, innovating, and creating new paths that now forms the very essence of today's India," PM Modi declared. "In the last decade, India has added nearly two trillion dollars to its GDP. In just 10 years, the size of India's economy has doubled."
Today, India is one of the five largest economies in the world… We often hear that those who step out of their comfort zones achieve something big. Now, you don't need me to explain this to you because you have already made it this far. Today, India and its youth move forward with this very spirit.
That's why today, India is rapidly increasing in the new sectors. India's startup ecosystem, that you may not have heard of 10-15 years ago, is thriving," he told the large gathering.
A confident India, said PM Modi, has embarked on a new journey with the ultimate goal of building a 'Viksit Bharat'. As the bilateral trade between India and Nigeria clocks almost $15 billion, PM Modi spoke of the robust presence of Indians and Indian companies in Nigeria undertaking a diverse range of activities. It was on this occasion that he mentioned whenever the challenge arises anywhere in the world, India stands as the first responder to extend its support. Correspondent with that, he said India has made all possible efforts to raise Africa's voice on global platforms over the years.
"Gandhiji spent a long time in Africa. He shared a deep bond with the people of Africa. During the era of slavery, both the people of India and Nigeria left no stone unturned in their struggle for independence.". This inspired the Nigerian own movement for freedom when India gained independence. Today, India and Nigeria are moving forward together, like comrades from the days of struggle. India is the mother of democracy, and Nigeria is the largest democracy in Africa," he said.
This was also PM Modi’s first visit to the West African region. The Nigerian President had visited India last year for the G20 Summit as a guest country at PM Modi’s invitation that eventually also paved the way for the African nation to participate in the upcoming G20 Summit in Brazil as an invitee country.
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