Abuja, Nov 17 (IANS) Lauding the Indian community's contribution to the development of Nigeria, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that Indians never forget their values even while pursuing
the global common good.
"You all have not only given your hard work and effort to Nigeria, but also your hearts to Nigeria. The
Indian community here has always stood by Nigeria in both its joys and sorrows... There are many Indian
doctors here who are serving 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 largest in West Africa, ensuring people-to-people
contact between the two countries for decades.
PM Modi met hundreds of Indians immediately after holding bilateral discussions with Nigerian
President Bola Tinubu, following which he was conferred the national honour of Grand Commander of
the Order of the Niger (GCON).
Prime Minister Modi is the first foreign leader to be conferred with the Nigerian national honour since
1969.
"President Tinubu has honoured me with Nigeria's National Award. This honour belongs to the people of India. This honour belongs to all of you - Indians living here in Nigeria," he stated.
PM Modi asserted that stepping out of the comfort zone, innovating and creating new paths has now
become the very essence of today's India.
"In the past 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 the fifth-largest economy in the world... We often hear
that those who step out of their comfort zones are the ones who achieve something big. Now, you don’t
need me to explain this to you because you’ve already made it this far. Today, India and its youth are
moving forward with this very spirit. That’s why India is rapidly growing in new sectors today. India’s
startup ecosystem, which 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 continues to grow, reaching about $15 billion, PM Modi
mentioned the strong presence of Indians and the Indian companies in Nigeria that are involved in a
variety of sectors.
The PM mentioned that whenever a challenge arises anywhere in the world, India rises as the first
responder to extend its support.
At the same, he highlighted that over the years, India has made every possible effort to raise Africa’s
voice on global platforms.

"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.
When India gained independence, it also inspired Nigeria’s own movement for freedom. 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.

Earlier this week, Dominica had announced its highest national honour, the 'Dominica Award of Honour,' for PM Modi in acknowledgement of his pivotal support during the Covid-19 pandemic and his commitment to fostering India-Dominica relations.
Dominica's President Sylvanie Burton is set to confer the award during the India-CARICOM Summit in
Guyana, which Prime Minister Modi will be attending personally in the coming week after wrapping up
his engagements in the G20 Summit at Rio de Janeiro.
This would eventually take the number of civilian honours received by PM Modi to a record 17,
highlighting his leadership and India's growing stature on the global stage.
It is also a reflection of India's strengthened diplomatic relationships and the country's expanding
influence.
PM Modi has been conferred highest civilian honours in Saudi Arabia (King Abdulaziz Sash, 2016),
Afghanistan (State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan, 2016), Palestine (Grand Collar of the State of
Palestine Award, 2018), UAE (Order of Zayed Award, 2019), Russia (Order of St. Andrew the Apostle,
2019 - received by PM Modi in July 2024), Maldives (Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin,
2019), Bahrain (King Hamad Order of the Renaissance, 2019), US (Legion of Merit by the US Armed
Forces in 2020), Bhutan (Order of the Druk Gyalpo, 2021) Papua New Guinea (Ebakl Award, 2023), Fiji
(Companion of the Order of Fiji, 2023), Papua New Guinea (Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu,
2023), Egypt (Order of Nile, 2023), France (Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, 2023), Greece (Grand
Cross of the Order of Honour, 2023).
In addition to these highest civilian honours, PM Modi has received several prestigious awards from
renowned global organisations.
In 2018, he was awarded the Seoul Peace Prize by the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, in
recognition of his contributions to global harmony and world peace.
In the same year, the United Nations honoured PM Modi with its highest environmental accolade, the
Champions of The Earth Award, for his bold environmental leadership.
In 2019, PM Modi received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award, which is annually awarded to
leaders who demonstrate outstanding national leadership.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded PM Modi the Global Goalkeeper Award in 2019, in
recognition of his efforts to transform India’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan into a mass movement for
cleanliness.

In 2021, PM Modi received the Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award from Cambridge
Energy Research Associates (CERA), in recognition of his leadership on global energy and environmental
sustainability.