The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Indians

  • Indians laud Indo-Nigerian ties

    Indians in Nigeria have described the current bilateral relationship existing between their country and the host communities as cordial and mutually beneficial, promising that this would be sustained.

    Making this pledge at the weekend was the Second Secretary (Consular) Subbu Ramesh. He spoke at a press conference to commemorate the 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention.

    The convention is to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in 1915.

    According to the Consular, “Non-resident Indians continue to play pivotal role in building links between India and Nigeria and make valuable contribution to the host government by providing employment opportunities, being the largest foreign employer in Nigeria.”

    Indians in Nigeria have also been contributing to social causes both in Nigeria and back home, he said, even as he mentioned the invaluable contributions of the Indian Cultural Association (ICA) towards the Kerala Relief Fund.

    Echoing similar sentiments at separate remarks, President of Indian Women’s Association (IWA), Geetika Tandon, ICA general scribe, Sanjeev Tandon, Atul Kshetry,  president of Indian Professionals’ Forum all observed that their brothers and sisters in Nigeria have continued to support developmental strides of the host government and home country, noting that efforts should be made to improve as well as sustain the existing bilateral relations between both countries.

    The ICA scribe, who hinted of plans to invite Indian’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to Nigeria, said, “It will not only strengthen the relationship of the two countries but will also increase Indian businesses in Nigeria,” adding that, “We should also propose names of Indians based in Nigeria for the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman, an award constituted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to honour exceptional and meritorious contributions of non-resident Indians in their chosen fields.

  • Indians celebrate New Year

    Indians celebrate New Year

    Overseas Friends of BhartiyaJanta Party (OFBJP), Nigeria chapter, a social community of non-residence Indians living abroad, has celebrated Hindu NavVarsh, Indian New Year 2074.
    OFBJP Nigeria is a voluntary and community organisation of Indians in Nigeria. It is in 41 countries.
    The event held at the Geeta Ashram temple premises in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
    About 500 Indians and Nigerians witnessed the celebration.
    The event started with the seting of the lightening lamp, an Indian traditional way of inaugurating an event. ‘’It means taking people to light of wisdom from darkness,” an official of the body explained.
    The occasion featured Indo-Naija cultural performances. An Indo-Nigerian art fusion was performed by a student group, Lightyear Entertainment of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Lagos.
    The theme of the event was India’s patriotic persons and regional heroes who have contributed towards a better society in the field of Independence War, Art, Science and Culture.
    Mr. Vijay Chauthaiwale of the Foreign Affairs Department of BhartiyaJanta Party, India spoke to the audience on online trade and cultural relations between India and Nigeria.
    He highlighted the similarity and appealed all community and diplomatic missions to work together for a better world and rich the society.
    According to him, friendship and good governance are key to achieving development.
    Convener and President of OFBJP Nigeria Chapter Mr. Sanjay Srivastava highlighted the recent transformation in projects and policies of the Indian Government to reach out to society in the last three years.
    They are on health, hygiene, safety, industrial development, Save Girl Child, Peoples Participation in Projects, demonetisation, digitalisation of India, good governance and a corruption-free government.
    Other Indian social leaders at the event were: Dr. AnielPulikan; Chief Anil Gopwani; Mr. Manu Lalwani; Vikas Kane; Dr Bharat Pandey; Mr Abhishek Srivasastav; SadyojatShastri; Mrs Dipti Kane and Chief J. Duggad.

  • Don’t undermine our economy, Obasanjo warns expatriates

    Don’t undermine our economy, Obasanjo warns expatriates

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned companies – foreign and local, doing business in Nigeria against engaging in acts that could undermine Nigerian’s economy.
    Obasanjo said the emphasis today is on making Nigeria self – sustaining in production and consumption, vowing that he would kick against companies, whether indigenous or expatriates, that want to use unwholesome business practices to sabotage the self – reliance drive of the nation.
    The elderstatesman who spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Saturday at an interactive session with the Indian Professionals’ Forum(IPF) in Nigeria, condemned a situation where some companies have elected to make the country a dumping ground for sub – standard and fake products.
    The IPF members led by the President, Mr. Dinesh Rathi, had organized the interactive forum to further identify with Obasanjo and to tap from his wealth of experience.
    The Ota farmer explained wrong business dealing is not only act of undermining the economy, but also give a bad name to companies doing genuine business in Nigeria.
    He recalled that his administration had had cause to expel some Indians from the country because of unethical business practices, saying the duty of companies is to improve the lot of the country where they do business and not to undermine its economy.
    Obasanjo added that he visited India sometimes ago and witnessed to his admiration, what India and Indians were doing “for self reliance,” wondering “why any Indian company should come here(Nigeria) and undermine our own self reliance” initiative.
    He deplored a situation where “jollof rice is(allegedly) being prepared and shipped to Nigeria as ridiculous and bad,” and said that was not what the country needed.
    He admitted that there are genuine Indians doing business in Nigeria, engaging Nigerians as workers and contributing to the growth and development of the economy but challenged them to fish out the bad eggs among their midst.
    Obasanjo said: “there are Indians who are in partnership with Nigerians and they are doing well, we have some even here in Abeokuta. They are doing very well and it is very encouraging.

  • Indians woo Lagos residents to free diabetes tests

    The president of the Indian Cultural Association in Lagos, Chief Sanjay Jain, on Thursday enjoined Lagos residents to avail themselves of the association’s Free Diabetes Tests.

    Jain told journalists at a briefing in Lagos that the association and the Bhojraj Chanrai Foundation had jointly imported a technology, worth about $40,000 to aid early detection of diabetes in Nigerians.

    The association’s president advised interested Lagos residents to feel free and come for the “free of charge” Diabetes Test, scheduled to hold from Saturday, March 18 to Saturday, March 25, 2017.

    “We are using this opportunity to invite Lagos residents and Nigerians in Lagos, to our free diabetes testing camps in Lagos. It is going to be completely free for all  people that would come.

    “On these two Saturdays, we going to open up Free Diabetes Testing Camps at our centre at No. 2, Capa Avenue, Palmgrove Estate, Ilupeju, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.,” he said.

    According to him, the association has found out that type 2 Diabetes is currently the most common with Nigerians, with more than six million Nigerians being exposed to the ailment.

    He also said that medical findings had reported that Nigeria currently had the highest mortality rate from diabetes.

    Jain said that the association and the company were worried at the number of Nigerian lives that had been lost to the manageable disease.

    The president said that the Indians had discovered that the high mortality rate from diabetes in Nigeria was due to improper diagnosis and the expensive nature of its management.

    He said that with the new technology, it would become easier and more accessible for more people to be diagnosed and be counseled  on how best to manage diabetes free of charge.

    Jain said that the benefits of the new system include early detection, no drawing of blood, quick test within 6 seconds, no fasting or pre-conditioning, different from the traditional diagnostic methods and immediate test results.

    He said that the association had over the years been involved in the free provision  of water facilities to schools, artificial limbs, eye surgeries, maintenance of Old People’s Homes and police/community relationships.

  • Envoy: Indians in Diaspora remit $69b annually

    Envoy: Indians in Diaspora remit $69b annually

    The Second Secretary and Head of the Consulate at the Lagos office of the High Commission of India, Subbu Ramesh, has said 30 million Indians in the Diapora remit $69 billion yearly.
    He said Indians were respected for their contributions to their host countries and India.
    Ramesh spoke in Lagos during the 14th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (non-Indian residents), a flagship programme organised by the government of India to acknowledge the contributions of the Indian community to the development of their country and in commemoration of the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India from South Africa in 1915.
    It was in conjunction with the Indian Cultural Association, the Indian Women Association and the Indian Professional Forum in Lagos.
    Ramesh urged other immigrant communities to emulate Indians in the Diaspora through hard work, discipline, love and peace.
    The envoy said a skill development programme, Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana, which was launched on January 1, would give better economic opportunities to Indian youths seeking oversees employment.
    He said: “This forum is a worthy platform to create an enabling direct dialogue between the Indian government and its people abroad for social and economic transformation.”
    Many Indians noted that Nigeria accorded them respect for their managerial, technical and professional abilities.

  • ‘Indians learn from Nigerians how to be happy’

    Mr. Sanjeev Tandon is the General Secretary, Indian Cultural Association and Senior General Manager, Group Projects and Administration at Kewalram Chanrai Group, Nigeria. He has lived in Nigeria for about two decades and spoke to NNEKA NWANERI.

    Nigeria is a lovely country and Nigerians are good people. We learn from Nigerians how to be happy people. Nigerians are the happiest people in the world. I miss Nigeria anytime I go back to India.

    Nigerians have potential, talent and capability. It’s just that the timing is not yet right but yet to come. The day will come when it will be the topmost country in Africa. It will be my pleasure to know that my prediction will come to fruition in the next ten years or more. Mark my words; it will be among the top five countries in the world.

    Nationals of India, China and Nigerians are hardworking, intelligent and work almost 24 hours to reach their goals and that is all that is required to be a professional.

    So what went wrong?

    Nothing is wrong with Nigeria. It is only the timing and the time is coming fast.

    About Chanrai Group

    In Chanrai, we train our staff and give them a free hand to work and that is why there are people who have stayed here for more than 40 years and still give their best.

    How long have you been in Nigeria?

    You see, I am Indian but Nigerian at heart. I’ve been in Nigeria for almost two decades and my children schooled here before going to the United States of America to study in the University. Both my daughter and son are in University of West Virginia and they represent not only Nigeria but Africa. They love Nigeria and see it as their own country. While one is schooling in Boston, another two are in West Virginia University, but still I wish they are here in Nigeria schooling because it’s better off here. But now they are older and chasing their own careers.

    My daughter, Tanya is the President of the African Union of Students of WVU. She was secretary of the association from 2010-2011 and vice president from 2011 to 21012. My son, Kashish is the Vice President of the International Students Association; events coordinator of the African Students Association and a member of the National Society of Black Engineers.

    For the development of Africa, and especially to Nigeria, Kashish believes he was born here having come into the country when he was just a year old. I remember him telling everyone he was born here. He is also a die-hard Chelsea fan

    Which Nigerian delicacies do you like?

    I love that roasted plantain (boli) and garri (eba) and that soup with fish inside (ofe nsala).

    Advice to government

    Government has to take extra steps needed to attract investors since there is no available Forex and ensure that such investors have government’s confidence that their interests will be well taken care of.

  • Worried Minister says Indians are buying over MTN Nigeria

    Worried Minister says Indians are buying over MTN Nigeria

    Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has expressed sadness over the state of the economy noting that Indians are gradually buying over MTN Nigeria.
    According to Onu, not less than 75 percent ownership of MTN has been acquired by Indians.
    The minister disclosed this in Abuja at the weekend during the inaugural press conference of the Computer-Based Test, (CBT) Centre Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, (CPAN) with the theme: the impact of ICT in CBT system of examination.
    Government, Onu said, does not want foreigners to take away technological opportunities meant for Nigerians.
    Represented by the Assistant Director, Information Communication and Technology, (ICT) at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Adeyemi Adebayo, the minister said: “Indians are gradually buying over MTN in Nigeria now and one of the bad things about this development is that Indians now have the capacity to administer what MTN does by Physically employing Nigerians.
    “They want the capacity to do that from their country and if we in Nigeria allow all these opportunities to go it will not speak well.
    “Indians have now taking over not less than 75 percent of MTN and the control of MTN is not from Indian not even from Nigeria and if your association is not taken over this CBT may be Indians will come and take over CBT.
    “You people are doing a great work. Government does not want people from other countries to come and take away our technology. I believe that if we have associations like CPAN, they can regroup from the telecom companies they can take back what Indians have taking away from Nigeria.
    “MTN Nigeria is actually a Nigerian company, they came from South Africa but who are the people doing the work, are they not Nigerians?”
    Onu said Nigeria has not adequately exploited the potentials of the Information Communication and Technology, (ICT) hence weakening the economy.
    Onu said the country’s productivity capacity to compete with the world has also been weakened.
    The repercussion according to the minister, is that Nigeria may not have international competitive products in the world.

  • Chinese, Indians, Britons, others for Buildmacex exhibition

    The incessant collapse of buildings in recent times will be a major issue that will feature at this year’s Buildmacex Nigeria which holds from October18 to 20.

     The annual exhibition that serves as an integrated platform of opportunities where visitors and participants meet directly annually with manufacturers, government agencies and top distributors in the industry, according to Mr. Ayodeji Olugbade, the Managing Director of Atlantic Exhibition,the organizers of the exhibition.

     This year’s exhibitors will be coming from Turkey, UAE, China, India, United Kingdom, Lebanon, America, Ukraine, Nigeria and many other countries to showcase quality products of building materials, machineries, construction tools, water treatments and interior and exterior designs.

    The exhibition is open to the professionals of the industry like architects, quantity surveyors, interior designers, builders, distributors, wholesalers and retailers.   Olugbade also added that the reason for the exhibition is to promote the building and interior sectors in Nigeria and West Africa. The exhibition will also create avenues for questions from experts of the industry on building collapses in Nigeria, how to determine the best foundation for buildings, where to get quality products for building materials, and we will all get to know what is happening to the Millennium Tower Building in Abuja.