Nigeria has conferred its second-highest nationwide honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The award, offered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the State Home in Abuja, acknowledges Modi’s contributions to fostering India-Nigeria ties and his world statesmanship.
Prime Minister Modi, the primary Indian chief to go to Nigeria in 17 years, expressed gratitude for the accolade, dedicating it to the folks of India and the enduring friendship between the 2 nations.
“I’m deeply honoured to obtain the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger Award. This recognition displays the shared aspirations of our 1.4 billion residents and the robust bond between India and Nigeria,” Modi acknowledged.
This distinction locations Modi alongside the late Queen Elizabeth II as one of many few international leaders to obtain the GCON, underscoring the historic significance of the occasion.
Modi’s go to comes as the 2 democracies goal to bolster cooperation in essential sectors, together with power, agriculture, fintech, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Highlighting Nigeria’s pivotal function in Africa, Modi emphasised India’s dedication to enhancing ties with the continent and selling the priorities of the International South.
“India and Nigeria share a relationship constructed on mutual respect, cooperation, and a imaginative and prescient for shared prosperity. Collectively, we are going to work to advance the pursuits of our folks and the broader African continent,” Modi remarked.
Earlier within the day, Modi was welcomed with ceremonial honours, together with the symbolic “Key to the Metropolis of Abuja,” offered by Nigeria’s Minister for Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The gesture signifies the belief and respect accorded to the Indian chief by Nigeria’s management and residents.
Modi’s go to to Nigeria is a part of a three-nation tour, with subsequent stops in Brazil for the G20 Summit and Guyana to bolster South-South cooperation.
As the 2 nations chart a course for expanded collaboration, the go to units the stage for deeper integration and shared progress within the years to come back.
Modi turns into the second international chief to obtain Nigeria’s GCON, after Queen Elizabeth II in 1969.
Discussions with Nigerian management targeted on financial progress, power safety, and cultural alternate.
India stays one among Nigeria’s largest buying and selling companions, with bilateral commerce exceeding $15 billion yearly.
