[SPECIAL REPORT]
infrastructure, public transport, clean energy, irrigation,
agriculture, and manufacturing across Africa.
Nigeria is the most widely recognised global player
on the African landmark. It is the biggest economy on the
continent, with global aspirations in terms of a new world
order and is considered by India as an important partner
for development.
India is now the largest trading partner of Nigeria globally
and Nigeria is the largest trading partner of India in Africa.
The bilateral trade last year (2017-18) touched $12 billion,
according to national statistics. Most of this trade is reliant on
oil import from Nigeria, which stands at 80 percent of imports,
compared to 20 percent of Indian exports to Nigeria. These
exports range from pharmaceuticals, engineering equipment,
automobiles to products in the power sector.
Technology will be a strong foundation of this partnership.
Greater cooperation is envisaged in the future along diverse
verticals: Pan Africa e-Network, reduction in the digital
divide within Africa and between Africa and rest of the world,
sustainable development of the blue economy, clean energy,
climate, health care, and resilient agriculture.
At the second India Africa Forum Summit in Addis
Ababa, Indian Prime Minister had emphasised, “The India-
Africa partnership rests on three pillars: capacity building,
skill transfer, and trade and infrastructure development”,
highlighting the new dynamics of India-Nigeria ties.
India commitment to transferring skills and knowledge
to the African youth would be evident from the fact that the
technical training slots under the Indian Technical Economic
Cooperation (ITEC) programme have been increased
manifold; over 1000 offi cials and 15,000 African students
receive training in India annually. Pan African e-Network
project gave Africa a great opportunity to bridge the digital
divide and to further telemedicine and distance learning
programmes linked to Indian Universities.
The Indian Government provides 3.5 million dollars as
capacity building assistance to train Nigerian government
offi cials under the ITEC programme.
At this year’s ITEC Day in Abuja, Indian High
Commissioner mentioned that the slots under the programme
would cover 310 civilians and 120 defence training
programmes in 2017-2018. An additional 1.2 million dollars
were made available for 55 more training programmes off ered
in 2017 and 10 rural women referred to as `solar mamas’ will
be trained in fabrication, repair, and maintenance of solar
lanterns and household lightening systems.
Twenty Nigerian diplomats are currently undergoing a
Special Training Programme at the Foreign Training Institute
in India, India is providing for specialised training of Nigerian
diplomats.
Pan African e-Network project
gave Africa a great opportunity to
bridge the digital divide and to
further telemedicine and distance
learning programmes linked to
Indian Universities.
It is obvious that Nigeria and India have several factors
in common such as large population, democratic political
system, and diverse societies and both countries also share
common challenges such as terrorism, insurgency and
strive for inclusive socio-economic development. Although
economic and political ties between the two countries have
expanded in the last decade, the scope for enhancement of
the relationship always remains.
.
* The author is former Ambassador of India to Senegal
and six other African countries. On retirement, he became
Chairman of Overseas Infrastructure Alliance (India) Pvt.
Ltd. (OIA) for close to ten years. In both assignments, he
initiated and expanded economic relations with various
foreign heads of state/government, senior government
offi cials, and business leaders.
Nigeria-India• 2018 • 23