PM Narendra Modi awarded with Nigeria’s ‘The Grand Commander of the Order of Niger’ honor

Abuja| Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Nigeria’s honor, ‘The Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’ (GCON) award. With this, PM Modi has become the second biggest personality in the world to receive this highest honor of Nigeria. Before this, Queen Elizabeth is the only foreign personality to be awarded this award in 1969.

On this occasion, PM Modi said that I express my heartfelt gratitude to you, the government and people of Nigeria for being honored with Nigeria’s national award ‘The Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’. I accept this honor with humility and respect. I dedicate this honor to the deep friendship of 140 crore Indians and India-Nigeria.

Relations between India and Nigeria are based on mutual cooperation, harmony and mutual respect. As two vibrant democracies and dynamic economies, we have been working together for the welfare of the people of both the countries.

Apart from this, PM Modi said that today we discussed in detail how to further strengthen and expand mutual cooperation. New possibilities have been identified in economy, energy, agriculture, security, fintech, small and medium scale enterprise (micro, small and medium sized enterprises) and cultural sectors.

Nigeria has played a huge and positive role in Africa and close cooperation with Africa has been a high priority for India. India and Nigeria will move forward together for the prosperity of the people of both the countries and the entire African continent. We will value the interests and priorities of the Global South, working in close coordination.

PM Narendra Modi reached Nigeria on Sunday on the invitation of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the first leg of his three-nation tour. The President warmly welcomed PM Modi at Abuja Airport. This visit is being considered special for strengthening the relations between India and Nigeria. In this three-nation visit, PM Modi will first attend the G20 summit in Nigeria (16 to 21 November), then Brazil, and finally visit Guyana.