India-Nigeria Partnership Set to Deepen Across Agriculture, Technology and Energy
Nigeria-based Indian businessman and socialite, Sanjay Jain, has projected that Nigeria and India could emerge as major global powers between 2050 and 2100, noting that cooperation between both countries is expected to deepen in areas including agriculture, 5G technology and energy transition.
Jain said India and Nigeria have developed a strong strategic partnership in the 21st century, moving from their historical non-aligned solidarity to deeper economic, defence and technological cooperation.
According to him, “India, as the world’s most populous democracy, and Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, are natural partners, strengthening ties through cooperation.”
Jain made the remarks in Lagos while interacting with select journalists on the 21st Century India-Nigeria relationship. He described the bilateral relationship as strong, resilient and mutually beneficial, noting that cooperation between the two countries has expanded considerably across trade, investment, healthcare, education, culture and technology.
He explained that the longstanding partnership between both nations has continued to strengthen their bilateral ties through shared democratic values, economic cooperation and people-to-people engagement. He added that Nigeria and India had built a relationship founded on mutual respect, trust and shared aspirations for economic growth and sustainable development.
According to Jain, the relationship between the two countries has recorded remarkable growth over the years, making Nigeria one of India’s most important partners in Africa.
On investments, he disclosed that more than 135 Indian companies currently operate in Nigeria, with investments exceeding $27 billion. He said these investments have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic diversification, manufacturing sector and job creation.
Jain explained that in the 21st century, the relationship between the two countries would shift from a primarily political focus towards greater economic collaboration, with attention on key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture and infrastructure.
He also disclosed that there are growing initiatives to replicate Indian technical expertise through the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Nigeria. According to him, the initiative is aimed at fostering innovation-driven solutions.
Jain added that about 50,000 Nigerians were living and working in India in 2024, describing this as part of India’s contribution to strengthening cultural and diaspora ties between both countries.
He further noted that there is ongoing cooperation between Nigeria’s Nollywood and India’s Bollywood in filmmaking, describing the initiative as part of the cultural exchange between the two nations.
Jain said the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nigeria in 2024, the first such visit in 17 years, further demonstrated the strength of the relationship between both countries. During the visit, Modi was conferred with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Nigeria’s second-highest national honour.
He also revealed that India spearheaded the inclusion of the African Union, which includes Nigeria, into the G20, a development he said further strengthened the shared influence of India and Nigeria on global issues.
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