Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives Nigeria's highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Photo: Reuters file
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound gratitude after being awarded Nigeria's highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. He stated that this honour will continually inspire him to elevate the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria to unprecedented levels. Modi dedicated the prestigious award to the 1.4 billion Indians and the enduring friendship between the two nations.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) upon PM Modi in Abuja on Sunday. Notably, Queen Elizabeth is the only other foreign dignitary to have received this honour, back in 1969. This marks the 17th international award bestowed upon PM Modi by a foreign nation.
In his acceptance speech, PM Modi conveyed his heartfelt thanks to the government and people of Nigeria for the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger award. He accepted the honour with humility and respect, dedicating it to the 1.4 billion Indians and the strong bond between India and Nigeria. Modi emphasized that this award will continue to motivate efforts to enhance the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Modi also underscored the robust ties between India and Nigeria, built on mutual cooperation, goodwill, and respect. He highlighted that as two thriving democracies and economies, both countries have been collaborating for the welfare of their citizens. The social and cultural diversity in both nations is seen as a shared strength and identity. Modi noted the similarities between Nigeria's Renowned Hope Agenda and India's Viksit Bharat 2047.
During their discussions, Modi and Tinubu identified new opportunities for strengthening cooperation in various sectors, including economy, energy, agriculture, security, fintech, small and medium-scale enterprises, and culture. Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to bolstering ties with Nigeria and the broader African continent, acknowledging Nigeria's significant role in Africa.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, praised PM Modi's visionary leadership, which has positioned India as a global powerhouse and fostered unity, peace, and shared prosperity. Jaiswal shared a post on X, noting that the award citation highlights Modi's transformative governance and his stellar contribution to fostering India-Nigeria relations.
Notably, PM Modi's visit to Nigeria marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 17 years. Modi is currently on a three-nation tour, which includes stops in Nigeria, Brazil, and Guyana from November 17 to November 21. Earlier in the day, Modi had a productive discussion with Nigerian President Tinubu, aiming to boost the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
