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This is our 6th edition on India's growing ties with Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon and Chad, as handled by the High Commission of India in Abuja, Nigeria. A 92 page issue went into the details, which normally are not available in the mainstream media.
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Disclaimer: InfiniTies: A Focus on India's Ties with Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon and Chad is a special publication. The views expressed in this journal are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the High Commission of India. The magazine is produced to
promote bilateral ties. The journal has no commercial value and is not for sale, it is for private circulation only.
Published byHigh Commission of India, 15, Rio Negro Close, Off Yedseram Street, Maitama, Abuja, NigeriaTel: 234-708-062 2800-4 (5 lines)Fax: 234-708-062 2805Email: [email protected]: www.indianhcabuja.com
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C • o • n • T • e • n • T • SForeword by Indian High Commissioner ................................................................................................6“I Feel Proud to Witness India's Progress in My Life”: Ex-President Obasanjo ..................................8Construction of Highways: nigerian Minister for Works Studies Indian experience ............................12Unlocking Market Opportunities for Smallholder Farmers: Nigerian Agriculture Minister ...............14“India-nigeria Cooperation needed in Housing Sector”: Nigerian Land Minister .............................18Nigeria and India to Strengthen Defence Ties: Minister .....................................................................20Borno State MoU with Indian Companies ...........................................................................................24Call for Nigeria-India Joint Diaspora Commission ...............................................................................25“My Visit to Defexpo 2012 Will Spur Bilateral Defence Ties”: Cameroon Defence Minister .............26“President Biya is Keen to Improve Ties with India”: Cameroon Economic Minister .......................28Indian School in Benin Republic Obtains Indian Affiliation ................................................................32Chad: Coming Change in Indian Honorary Consul ............................................................................33Pictorial Almanac 2012 ........................................................................................................................34The Second India-Africa Academic Conference, March 2012 .............................................................40INDIAFRICA: A Shared Future ............................................................................................................42Young Nigerians Excelling in Delhi ......................................................................................................46An Indian House for nigerian Art.........................................................................................................49India-nigeria: Areas of Convergence in the Health Sector ..................................................................52Indian Doctors’ Mission Conducts 400 Polio Corrective Surgeries in Nigeria .....................................56eight nigerian Children with Heart Disease operated Successfully in India .......................................66NASSCOM’s Delegation to Nigeria .....................................................................................................68ITEC Day in Nigeria .............................................................................................................................70“Indorama Working on 3 New Projects in Nigeria”: Amit Lohia, Group MD ......................................72My Journey Through Indian Language School, Lagos: Outgoing Principal ......................................74Tata’s Tryst with Nigeria ......................................................................................................................78How Bollywood Fought for the nigerian Woman .................................................................................80Nigerian Development Company to set up Whistling Woods International in Nigeria .........................82Namaste Niger: First Indo-Nigerian Film to Debut in 2013! .................................................................83Launch of Asian Chapter India of Actors' Guild of Nigeria ...................................................................84India Beat Cameroon to Lift 2012 Nehru Cup ......................................................................................86Study in India: No Limit, No Compromise ............................................................................................88Prestige Assurance Plc – A Perspective of A True General Insurer ....................................................90
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Foreword by Indian High Commissioner
This being sixth edition of InfiniTies, I should be able to fast forward this write up in a jiffy! Au contraire, so much has been happening between India and each of Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon and Chad that it’s no longer easy to enumerate and prioritise all that
has happened in 2012 and what could the incoming year herald.
In a way, 2012 was somewhat different. There was no defining moment that catches one’s eye as the representative event of the year. Yet it is been a satisfying year which saw comprehensive growth in bilateral ties between India and each of our West African partners. India’s ties with Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon and Chad continued to chug along in 2012. Among the prominent visitors from these countries to India during the year was Former Nigerian President H.E. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who had a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Hon’ble Dr. Manmohan Singh. During 2012, India also received 9 Nigerian Ministers (Finance, Labour, Works, Science & Technology, Education, Interior, Land & Housing, Agriculture and MoS (Defence)) Similarly, we had the privilege of having Ministers of Economy and Social Affairs of Cameroon and Chad Minister of Economy. During last year, Governors of three Nigerian states (Plateau, Borno, & Sokoto) visited India. India also hosted a number of other official and business delegations from these countries.
People-to-People contacts are, arguably, the most important driver and barometer of ties. These continued to grow and we ended 2012 with around 40,000 visas, up 16% over previous year. Over a longer term of past five years, the number of Nigerians going to India has gone up nearly four-fold. Of special significance in 2012 was even faster growth in Business and Student segments, showing that these ties are soaring. Medical tourism, too, grew albeit at a slower pace. We are also glad to welcome 1,200 Nigerian students going to various Indian institutes of higher learning in 2012, up nearly 60% over last year.
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In addition, since April 1 2012, 188 professionals from Nigeria, 12 from Benin, 25 from Cameroon and 11 from Chad attended training courses in India under our Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme. Each of these numbers is a new record for the respective country. An article in this issue dwells on the feat. These countries have benefitted from other Indian fellowships as well.
These four countries also benefitted through implementation of the decisions of the two India-Africa Forum Summits offering training programmes, research fellowships, and setting up of various institutions. For instance, India is to set up a Food Testing Lab in Nigeria and a Food Processing Cluster in Cameroon. Separately, Indian lines of credit for setting up of a Pharmaceutical Plant in Chad and a Tractor Assembly Line in Benin were also announced.
Trends in bilateral trade have been mixed. Certain things remained unchanged: India continued to be Nigeria’s second largest trading partner and Nigeria remained India’s largest trading partner in Africa. Nigeria improved its position to being India 13th largest global trading partner. Nigeria also continued to have large trade surplus with India. In the last Indian financial year (Which ended on March 31 2012), India-Nigeria trade reached a record figure of $ 17.323 billion, having grown 34% over past year. While Nigerian exports to India (mostly crude oil) grew by 36%, Indian exports to Nigeria grew by 29% with notably higher growth recorded by rice, transport equipment and pharmaceuticals. The latest bilateral trade data available (8 month period of April-November 2012) speaks of some slowdown. The total trade registered a figure of $ 10.867 billion. When compared with similar period of 2011, it showed a decline of 5.6% due to marginally (-8%) lower Indian purchase of Nigerian crude. While Indian exports continued to grow vis-a-vis last year, the rate came down to single digit (+7.4%). Similar trends were noticed in our trade with each of Benin, Cameroon and Chad where robust growth of 2011-12 gave way to a more prosaic trend.
New bilateral projects and initiatives continued to be mooted through the year. Most noteworthy of them were Nagarjuna fertilizers ($2.4 bn), Indorama ($ 2.0 bn) and a Primary Alcohol Plant ($120 mn) in Ogun State. Some progress was made towards a bauxite to Alumina project in Cameroon with India’s Aditya Birla Group as operator.
History was created in Lagos in March 2012 with a NIIA-ICWA Academic Conference. This first-ever event did not only bring Nigerian and Indian international affairs experts together at a platform for the first time, it created a synergy that was greater than sum of its parts. Rotary India sponsored a 25-member medical team to Nigeria in early December. They conducted over 700 corrective surgeries on children afflicted with Polio was the largest ever of its kind. What did the average child being operated want to do? Play football! This humanitarian mission was very well received by Nigerian people and media. In sports, presence of footballers from Nigeria and Cameroon in Indian clubs is no longer a news, but history was created by participation of Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in our Nehru Cup.
Nothing showed inter-twining of our two people more that their shared tragedies which some Indian residents in Nigeria endured with their Nigerian brothers during 2012. These included Dana air-crash (2 Indians died), January 20 mayhem in Kano (1 died, five were injured), July 26 tragedy in Maiduguri (2 killed, 1 injured) and numerous kidnappings, some of whom are still being held. We deeply commiserate their loss and condole the bereaved families. Their sacrifices underline empathy that our peoples have for each other.
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Excellency my first question is you studied at Wellington and then you frequently traveled in various positions including the places in Nigeria to India. What changes you have noticed in India during the current visit?
Oh God! The changes in India in the time I was here in 1965 and
today has been monumental; really, really monumental. When I was here in 1965 I remember vividly that most of my instructors in the defence staff college, Wellington had no cars and they were lieutenant colonels and colonels. Most of them had no cars. Some of them had scooters. Even a few of them went on bicycles.
Today I would be surprised if there would be an Indian officer of the rank of colonel who would not be riding a car. That’s number one.
Number two, the economy of that time was – they’re self-reliant, but it was far, far from being strong particularly in the area of food security. If there’s any area
Ex-President Obasanjo “I Feel Proud to Witness India's Progress in My Life”
The former President of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo visited Delhi in March 2012 for Track II diplomacy, met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and addressed the audience at the Indian Council for World Affairs. In an interview with journalist Harun Riaz, the seasoned Nigerian leader
spoke on issues concerning India, Nigeria and African continent.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh meeting with Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria in New Delhi on March 12, 2012
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China have been given massive bit of infrastructure support, and there is no reason why India can not do the same. We know that the system is different here but I said back there that nothing stops India from doing something similar. I understand this kind of Indian support to Africa is now being provided. India has made available $5 billion for infrastructure in Africa. I have been told that Ethiopia had access to about $1.2 billion of that money. Zambia has had access to it. Tanzania has had access to it.
That is the sort of thing that we are talking about. And even my own country Nigeria have access to it and we are talking about that in area that are very essential for us in the infrastructure, in the area of studies that need to be carried out and also I understand this is also backed by $500 million of grant for studies for project planning. This is sort of thing that should be done and already is being done.
During your address given at the Indian Council for World Affairs a portion of it was concentrated on investment from India. There has always been a perception in recent times among the Nigerian leadership that the investment by the Indian private sector is not supported by the government as is the case with Chinese investment. Can you elaborate?
I don’t think this should be attributed to “Nigerian Leadership” simply because when you are talking of Nigerians I was in-charge of Nigerian affairs for 8 years from1999 to 2007. So if you’re talking of Nigerian leadership in recent terms you would be talking of me and that was not my point of view. But, there’s no doubt, and I said that in my lecture 3 or 4 days ago that India is becoming an important player in Africa, as China is in Africa. And I said also that
Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo addressing a Special Session at ICWA on “Indo-African Partnership in Development” at Indian Council of World Affairs in New Delhi, March 2012
that is suffering from inadequacy of food in India today it will be as a result of probably poor distribution. I believe the issue of food security from the point of view of production or availability seem to have been taken care of. It was harrowing to me in 1965 to see in Calcutta people actually dying in the street of starvation and hunger. That is no longer the spectacle of this country. Today India is one of the, what is called, emerging economy along with Russia, Brazil and China as very happening. In times of technology today India can be settled, hold its own in the area of electronics and IT. Even in nuclear technology, India is not too far behind. But, more importantly today India has its influence growing in almost all the regions of the world and I see that. So we are talking of an India that in the space of 47 years has made tremendous progress, tremendous progress to date and I feel proud that I have seen this process in my short span of life.
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A considerable portion of your ICWA address was about the western media and the coverage of India and the perception it has created. The India media is also at times influenced by the western media when it comes to issues about Africa. And you spoke about the information. What should be done to rectify the situation?
Yeah, well you must try and be more knowledgeable about
to make us feel frightened about India, or to make us write India off, or to make us absolutely negative about India. For instance when you talk about crime for instance, do we have – is the level of crime in any city in India higher than the level of crime in New York? Is the level of crime in any city in Nigeria or in Africa, except probably Johannesburg, higher than the level of crime anywhere in New York? Now this is what we should be saying
the west has now been used as an instrument of regime change in Africa. That was not what NATO was created for. That’s unfortunate. I will say that is definitely abuse of what NATO was created for.
I’m not holding plea for Libya but no matter what might have been the situation or the position of Libya the people of Libya must be allowed to bring about change in their own country. It happened
to ourself and if we said this to ourself it will be understood by our own people in India and in Africa. If I as an African portray India favorably and positively it will make impression in Africa and indeed it will tend to make impression outside Africa and outside India. But if I portray India negatively of course that’s what the western media will want.
How do you assess the developments in Libya?
Well , L ibya s i tuat ion was unfortunate. Unfortunate in the sense that NATO which was established for the defence of
Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria in an interview with Journalist Harun Riaz
in Tunisia. It happened in Egypt. It has happened in Yemen. Now that’s alright. It should have been allowed to happen in Libya too. For it not been allowed to happen that way in Libya is unfortunate, and it should not be taken as a good precedent. It is something that we should make sure does not happen again anywhere in Africa or anywhere in Asia or anywhere in the world. NATO is meant to be, created to be for defence of the west. It was not created to be an instrument of regime change. Thank you very much.
(The views express by the dignitary do not necessarily represent official position.)
“You must try and be more
knowledgeable about Africa and when
you are more knowledgeable
about Africa and you project Africa from the positive
point of view then your readers in
India will be able to see Africa from the positive point
of view”
Africa and when you are more knowledgeable about Africa and you project Africa from the positive point of view then your readers in India will be able to see Africa from the positive point of view.
Now we in the so-called third-world countries or developing countries must not go for the stereotype that western media go for about ourselves. I know India. I have had part of my education here. I know there are challenges but those challenges are nothing
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Construction of Highways: Nigerian Minister for Works Studies Indian Experience
In March 2012, Nigerian Minister of Works Led a Team to India to Examine Suitability of Adopting Indian Model of Constructing Highways on B.O.T. Basis. InfiniTies Provides Further Details.
The Nigerian Minister for Works and H.E. Arc. Mike O. Onolememen, MNIA, MNIM, met Hon’ble Dr. C. P. Joshi, Indian Minister of Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi on February 28, 2012
The Minister of Works, Federa l Republ i c o f Nigeria, Architect Mike O.
Onolememen, MNIA, MNIM met Dr. C. P. Joshi, Minister of Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi on February 28, 2012.
The Nigerian Minister stated that the Nigeria is impressed by the progress made by India in development of the highways especially, implementing the Public- Private-Partnership (PPP) projects. He indicated that the
objective of the meeting is to gather information on India’s road policy, learn the implementation policy, share information on road sector reforms and management of roads in India and also to establish a linkage between the two countries esp with National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and other road institutes in India.
The Nigerian delegation engaged in details of procedure and policy in India for identifying and preparing
plans for the road connectivity, developing the medium five year term plans, solutions for financing the projects in view of budgetary constraints and other details regarding India’s Public Private Partnership projects.
Dr. Joshi explained the process of developing and finalizing the Financial Plans (Five year and annual plans) in India, the Government policy for providing the viability gap funding (VGF), incentive and policy framework
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for enhancing the private sector investment in road sector. He informed the visiting Nigerian delegation about the various modes of delivery of national highways adopted by India and the policy changes undertaken by India to tie over various constraints including financial resource crunch and earlier recessionary phases.
He pointed out that the recently d e v e l o p e d ‘ E n g i n e e r i n g , Procurement and Construction’ –EPC model for undertaking the highways projects is focusing on containing the shortcomings of previous ‘item rate contracts’ and would be able to avoid the cost and time over-run in such cases.
Explaining the importance of having skilled and professional manpower to success fu l ly undertake and implement the road projects, Dr. Joshi advised the visiting dignitaries to keep this requirement in view while drawing up the necessary programme. Minister for Road Transport and Highways informed the visiting Nigerian delegation about the Indian policy of competitive bidding, through e-tendering adopted by India to ensure the fair competition and transparency in the process.
Both the Ministers agreed that there is a scope for a meaningful interaction and exchange of knowledge and expertise from
India, helping the Nigeria in their endeavour to undertake the massive road connectivity programme of construction of national roads of Nigeria. Both the Ministers agreed that the meetings have been very useful and they look forward to enhanced bi-lateral cooperation in coming future.
The Nigerian Minister of Works was accompanied by the
Prior to their India visit, HC invited HE Arch. Mike Onolememen, Nigerian Minister of Works and his wife to India House for a send-off
dinner (Abuja; 21.2.2012)
Chairman, Road Sector Reform Committee (RSRC) of Nigeria, Members, Secretary and officials of the Committee, and the representative of the Nigerian Bureau of Public Enterprises. Dr. Tushar Choudhary, the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Mr. A. K. Upadhyaya, Secretary along with senior officials of the Ministry accompanied Dr. Joshi.
Source: PIB, India
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Unlocking Market Opportunities for Smallholder Farmers
By Dr. Akinwumi Adesina Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Government of Nigeria
It is a great pleasure for me to be in Hyderabad, at ICRISAT headquarters, to share in
the joy of your celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Institute. When a person turns 40, it is a special moment, an age at which achievements are celebrated, and when new milestones are set for the remaining years. I congratulate the Director General of ICRISAT, Dr. William Dar on this auspicious occasion of the 40th anniversary celebration of ICRISAT. Congratulations also to the Government of India for hosting one of the best agricultural research institutes in the world. It is great to be back to Hyderabad after 23 years, since I started by international career here as a Rockefeller Foundation Social Science Research Fellow.
ICRISAT is the world’s leading research center working on
expanding opportunities for farmers in the dryland tropics. The semiarid tropics is home to a large number of the poor, living in low potential areas, characterized by low and erratic rainfall, poor soils, limited infrastructure and limited access to markets. About 47% of the population earning less than one dollar per day (95 million people) live in dryland sub-Saharan Africa, while an estimated 34% (or 185 million people) live in dryland Asia. Efforts to lift millions out of poverty in these areas must accelerate the use of high yielding technologies, build the asset base of farmers and reduce natural resource degradation and vulnerability to shocks.
Connecting farmers to markets hold the greatest potential for transforming lives and livelihoods of farmers. The detailed analysis of
the challenges and opportunities in the semi-arid tropics, which formed the basis of the ICRISAT plan for 2020, reached the same conclusion. Your decision to focus on Inclusive Market-oriented Development for framing all your work is the right way forward. I will not try to go over the challenges and opportunities in the semi-arid tropics. You know those very well. Rather, what I will do is to focus on some of the lessons for market development from the perspective of Nigeria, which can be helpful for you as you implement your strategy. I will speak with you from my experience as a policy maker, on how we can make agriculture more productive and generate wealth for smallholder farmers, through the development of markets.
The Green Revolution that started in India in the 1960s was one of the most transformative endeavors ever attempted. At the time most commentators had written off Asia, especially India, as a basket case. The challenges of rising population and the predicted looming Malthusian scenario created a picture of enduring misery, hunger and poverty. What they did not take into consideration was the power of agricultural technology to raise productivity. The introduction of the short statured wheat varieties transformed the entire India Punjab. The lesson was clear: when appropriate technologies are combined with the right policy incentives, it is possible to transform the lives of millions
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of people, especially smallholder farmers. Today, India is a major exporter of food.
As Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria, I face a different challenge today: that of turning around a country that was once food self-sufficient and a major exporter of agricultural products, which later found itself as one of the largest food importers in the world. With 84 million ha of arable land, of which only 40% is utilized, abundant water resources, high population that supply skilled and low wage labor, and diverse and rich agro-ecological zones, there is no reason for Nigeria not to be major food production power house. Norman Borlaug once said ‘you cannot eat potential’.
To unlock the potential of agriculture, it is critically important to make a fundamental shift in how we see the sector. Agriculture should not be a development program. Agriculture should be treated as a business, which if run properly will have huge developmental impacts. That is why in Nigeria we now treat agriculture as a business and are aggressively focused on developing agricultural value chains that connect all the way from the farm
to the table to markets. For it is only when we develop agriculture along the entire value chains that the benefits of research and technology can fully impact on farmers.
Let us start with the market revolution going on today with sorghum in Nigeria. I am starting with sorghum because it is one of the mandate crops of ICRISAT. Nigeria is the largest producer of food sorghum in the world, with a total production of 9.4 million MT per year. Our focus is on using sorghum for malt, malt foods and beverages; high energy fortified foods and high quality sorghum flour for use in baking and confectionaries. The drive for market development and commercialization of sorghum started in 1988, when the government banned the import of barley and barley malts. This triggered a major effort by the breweries to find alternatives.
The Nigerian Brewery Company p i o n e e r e d r e s e a r c h a n d development which led to the production of malted sorghum. The Aba Malting Plant, with capacity of 30,000 MT per year, was established and has become the largest state-of the-
art sorghum malting plant in the world. Because of the support of the Nigerian Brewery Company, the area of sorghum cultivated by farmers linked to its supply chain expanded from 5,500 ha in 2006 to 25,000ha in 2010. The company now plans to expand its capacity to 60,000 MT. Additional six other maltsters’ plants by other malt companies have sprung up, with total installed capacity of 60,000 MT per annum of malted sorghum.
The sorghum transformation agenda in Nigeria plans to further unlock value for sorghum farmers and stimulate market demand, through the use of 1.5 million MT of sorghum for high energy fortified foods; 2 million MT for high quality sorghum flour for baking and use in extruded foods such as pasta, noodles; and 500,000 MT for use for malt, malt food and beverages. The development of these value chains will lead to expanded demand for high yielding sorghum technologies. The sorghum transformation plan is expected to increase sorghum production from 9 million MT in 2010 to 13 million MT by 2015 through mechanized commercial production of two
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new sorghum hybrids to be released in 2012 and existing high yielding open pollinated varieties. This will translate into greater incomes for farmers in the semiarid tropics of Nigeria.
Let’s now move on to cassava, which is also grown in the northern guinea savanna and dryland areas. Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world, with total production of 40 million MT annually. However, very little value addition is done to cassava, so for a long time it had remained a subsistence crop. I believe that as the largest producer in the world, Nigeria must become the largest processor in the world. A cassava revolution has now started in Nigeria with a sharp focus on creating new products from cassava that will drive accelerated uptake of new agricultural technologies.
We started with the substitution of cassava flour for some of the wheat flour that we import. In the past one year, composite cassava flour and wheat flour bread has been commercialized by the private sector, at 20% replacement of wheat flour with cassava flour. We expect that as this accelerates across the country, it will put $845 million annually in the hands of Nigerian farmers and cassava processors, while creating jobs at home, instead of exporting jobs.
Taking advantage of demands for cassava chips in China, Nigeria has started exporting cassava chips to China. We expect to export 1.1 million MT over the next twelve months, which will earn farmers and processors $136 million. We are actively working with Cargill, one of the largest food processing companies in the world, to produce industrial scale cassava starch to replace the corn starch that is currently imported. An estimated 250,000 MT of starch will be produced in Nigeria with new plants. The private sector is investing in the use of high fructose cassava syrup to replace some of the sugar that we currently import.
In each of these areas, the role of government has been to provide incentives for the private sector to add value to local produce and unlock market opportunities for farmers along the value chains. As market development accelerates across the cassava value chain, we have seen a rapid increase in demand for high yielding cassava varieties among our farmers. This year alone, we have so far distributed 8 million cassava stems to farmers, as farmers take advantage of the expanded market opportunities, and expect to reach 30 million stems by the end of the year.
Take the case of rice. Nigeria is the largest importer of rice now in the world, spending over $ 2 billion per annually to import 2.1 million MT of rice. However, Nigeria has huge potential to produce rice, with vast amounts of low lands, irrigated perimeters and d ive r se r i ce g rowing environments. The government set a new rice policy in 2011 to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production by 2015. We have launched an aggressive plan to address key challenges in the rice sector, including expanding access of farmers to high yielding varieties, fertilizers and irrigation. To encourage domestic rice production, government put in place new tariff regimes to protect domestic producers from the negative effects of the dumping of rice on the domestic market.
The response has been remarkable. In the past one year, 13 new large scale rice mills, owned by the private sector, have been established, with a total capacity of 240,000 MT. Consumer demand for local rice is rising, for the first time, as local processors are now able to meet the quality demands of consumers for long grain parboiled rice.
We secured low interest rate financing that will allow the private sector to acquire 100 large scale
integrated rice mills, at the cost of over $800 million. With these investments, by 2015, Nigeria will have in place, for the first time in its history, full industrial milling capacity to process all the rice it currently imports. Out-grower schemes of farmers are being linked to the clusters of rice mills, providing them access to secure markets. Demand for high yielding NERICA rice seeds is rising and farmers will plant an additional 100,000 ha in the dry season this year in the dryland areas of northern Nigeria, under irrigation.
Let me share with you some lessons from a silent revolution under way in Nigeria on agricultural input markets. When I became Minister of Agriculture in July 2011, what we met was a system of fertilizer and seed procurement and distribution that for decades relied on the government to buy and distribute fertilizers. For four decades, subsidized fertilizers were distributed from the Federal Government down to the states, via government channels. The system was corrupt and inefficient – it served the interest of rent seekers and the middle men, not poor farmers. Only 11% of farmers got the fertilizers meant for them, as they were taken over by the rich and powerful elites, large scale commercial farmers, while subsidized fertilizers made their way into neighboring countries where middle men sold them for huge profits. The system displaced the private sector. Poor quality fertilizers (sometimes half fertilizer and half sand) were supplied to the government and sold off to farmers.
Within 90 days of assumption of office, we totally dismantled the old system. We took out the cabals that controlled the fertilizer sector for decades. We took the government out of direct procurement and distribution of agricultural inputs. Today,
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agricultural inputs are sold directly to farmers by companies, reviving local seed and fertilizer companies. The role of the government shifted to providing vouchers for farmers to access subsidized inputs directly from the agro-dealers, under what we call Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES). We improved transparency and accountability in the subsidy system and ensured that only legitimate poor farmers got subsidized inputs.
We took advantage of the mobile phone technology and launched a nation-wide Electronic Farm Input Wallet system. Under the system, registered farmers receive electronic vouchers for subsidized inputs via their mobile phones, which they redeem electronically at the rural input retail shops, after paying the cash balance due. For the first time we are able to trace farmers who receive the subsidized farm inputs, remove political influence over the distribution of fertilizers, remove corruption in payments for subsidized inputs and administrative bottlenecks in paying input suppliers.
The system, which was rolled out five months ago, has already reached one million farmers by September. The electronic wallet system was a monumental engagement to restructure the input markets in Nigeria. It integrated an ecosystem of 25 seed and fertilizer companies, involved 25 banks and 700 agricultural extension workers and produced a register of 4 million farmers. It established 774 redemption sites with more than 900 participating agro-dealers across the country. The system successfully delivered 45,000 MT of fertilizers and over 9,000 MT of improved seeds – all through the private sector and directly to farmers. This allowed the planting of about 2.1 million hectares of farmland with improved seeds and fertilizer. At an average yield of 2.5 tons per
ha, we expect that the system will have expanded food production by the beneficiary farmers alone by over 5.3 million metric tons.
Dis t ingu ished Ladies and Gentlemen, let me state that the work of ICRISAT is more crucial today than ever before, especially in this era of climate change. The crops you work on, especially sorghum and millet are drought tolerant and hold great potential to help farmers to adapt to climate change. Your work on pigeon pea, chickpea, and groundnut hold great potential to improve the nutritional status of children and reduce wastage, stunting and malnutrition which are higher in the semiarid regions, while
of groundnuts in the world in the 1960s. You have a track record of success. ICRISAT helped the National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM) to overcome the challenges posed by maximum aflatoxin levels imposed by European markets, which has cost African countries close to $700 million in exports, because farmers were unable to meet the demands of markets. Through a highly successful effort, using low aflatoxin testing kits, ICRISAT helped Malawi to regain its export markets in groundnuts in Europe. Interestingly, I funded that work at ICRISAT when I was at the Rockefeller Foundation. Today, as Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria, I have reached out
helping farmers to improve the fertility of their soils. Your work on natural resources management, conservation of biodiversity, integrated crop-livestock and agroforestry systems, are needed to assure sustainable productivity growth and resilience of agriculture and livelihoods of farmers.
We are delighted that ICRISAT re-established its presence in Nigeria in 2010. We are looking forward to working together with ICRISAT to help restore Nigeria’s lost glory as the leading exporter
India-Nigeria Ties
to ICRISAT to launch a major 3-year program to bring back the groundnut pyramids of Nigeria!
(Addres s de l ive red on24th September 2012 by H.E. Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development at the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The Nigerian dignitary has a longstanding association with ICRISAT, located at Hyderabad, India).
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are now working with the private sector on the PPP programmes to be funded by the contractors who would build good quality and affordable houses for us. To reduce the costs, we can possibly offer inputs, including land to them in various states as well as capital Abuja.
We are prepared to sign an MoU with such companies who approach us.
We believe that this will help us to reduce the housing deficit. I have also requested the High Commissioner of India, Mr. Mahesh Sachdev to facilitate such companies writing to us. We are ready to work with them, esp. if they have innovative work plans and cost saving technologies. I am expecting him to arrange for some Indian companies, which are already in Nigeria, to work with us. As we have a large population of 167 million, the housing market is there; the builders shouldn't have anything to worry about getting return on their investments.
What are the incentives for the Indian companies if they come to Nigeria in the housing construction sector?
Our pol icy al lows Foreign Investors in construction or other sectors to repatriate 100% of their profits. For them, this is a big incentive.
India-Nigeria Ties
“India-Nigeria Cooperation Needed in Housing Sector”
The Nigerian Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, H.E. Ms Amal Pepple was in Delhi during October 24-26 to attend
the 2012 CAPAM Biennial Conference. She was interviewed by journalist Harun Riaz, for InfiniTies 2013 magazine:
Madam Minister, you visited India after a gap of four or five years. What are your impressions?
On earlier occasions, we didn't really have time to visit any historical sites. I am glad that this time I have today visited the famous Taj Mahal, the magnificent tomb built by an emperor for his wife. I was surprised it was built in 16th Century and it's still Standing! We also went to some markets and saw a lot of material, different Indian saris that we use back home in Nigeria so I've had
great opportunity of seeing the Indian culture.
Minister , you've had a distinguished career and now you are heading an important ministry Housing, Land and Urban Development. How India and Nigeria can cooperate in the area of housing, land and urban development?
Yes of course. Nigeria, we have the housing deficit of 16 to 17 million so we would like to build more at least one million houses every year. But the government cannot afford to build them, so we
H.E. Ms Amal Pepple, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development of Nigeria
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we have some Indian officials, military men in Nigeria, I think at Nigerian Defence College. Likewise, we also have Nigerian officers here at the Indian Defence College for their training. So that aspect of the Memorandum of Understanding is working quite well. Moreover it was the Indian Military, the Indian Armed Forces or the Indian Army that helped to set up our own Nigerian Defence Academy long ago and the first commandant was actually an Indian officer. And I’m happy to let you know that till today that
Nigeria and India to Strengthen Defence Ties – Minister
In March 2012, H.E. Mrs. Olusola Obada, Minister of State for Defence participated in Indian defence exhibition “Defexpo 2012”
in New Delhi. Editor Harun Riaz interviewed her on India’s defence ties with Nigeria.
India-Nigeria defence talks were held between the Minister of State for Defence of Nigeria, Mrs. Olusola Obada and the Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Pallam Raju in
New Delhi on March 30, 2012 during “Defexpo 2012”.
Phot
o: M
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ence
, Ind
ia
Madam Minister, how will you describe your first visit to the country and the Def Expo experience?
I must say that I’m extremely pleased at what I’ve seen in India, more especially because of your efforts as a country to depend and rely upon your own technology because I have not seen many luxury cars on the streets. I’ve seen more of Indian vehicles made in India and that is really exceptional and I want to congratulate India for this
great shift. And we are hoping that we too Nigerians will be able to do something like that and look internally towards our full industrialization.
What are your main challenges as the Minister of State for Defence of Nigeria?
Well, in the area that concerns India, we have an existing Memorandum of Understanding that says that we’ll cooperate in the area of training and I’m happy to let you know that as I speak
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institution is one of excellence producing very many young officers for the Nigerian Armed Forces.
One of the IT wing of the National Defence Academy of Nigeria was to be upgraded with Indian assistance so that the Academy can even be a military university. Has it happened?
Oh, yes of course because the Nigerian Defence Academy today has the status of a university that awards degrees like any other university. It is recommended as such and is treated as such.
What more can India and Nigeria do together to enhance and upgrade defence ties?
P a r t o f M e m o r a n d u m o f Understanding states that we should first of all share information about things that are beneficial to both countries. Also in the area of ship building, we are supposed to be cooperating together, the area of transfer of technology in all spheres that we both find mutually beneficial to each other we are supposed to share that also. And we are hoping that the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding should take on very soon in
Nigeria. We already have our team in place, and we are hoping that the Indian side, which has similar fundamentals, will also get theirs ready for the full implementation of MoU.
Madam Minister, how will you describe your first visit to India and the DefExpo 2012 experience?
We have discussed all the issues about the full implementation of our MoU that was signed in 2007 and we want it to be put into operation now. More so Nigeria has a long history with India starting from the 1930s that was, I think, during the Second World War, and we are both of course members of the Commonwealth. We have many things in common. We have many officers trained here. We have some officers that are sent to Nigeria for training also, and I believe this relationship should be made quite clear to the whole world that both India and Nigeria are working together. We
The then Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Pallam Raju handing over a Memento to the Minister of State of Defence of Nigeria, Mrs. Olusola Obada in New Delhi on March 30, 2012 during “Defexpo 2012”
Phot
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“We have discussed all the issues about the full implementation of
our MoU that was signed I think in 2007 and we want it to be put into
operation now”
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are first to have joint exercises of all kinds around military and we’re looking forward to all these things happening.
If we look into the Indo-Nigerian history of last 50 years, one can’t miss the fact that three or four Nigerian Presidents have studied in India including President Obasanjo.
What does it signify?
It says it’s a very deep and long relationship that exists between Nigeria and India and we have worked to ensure that this moves forward, because you’ve trained a group of officers that have been Heads of States of Nigeria, and we’ll of course be very appreciative also if you could train some more of our officers here in India. Moreover we need the cooperation and support for our defence industries company based in Kaduna, maybe in the production of lighter arms and so on. I believe also that you have a defence industry here, and it will be quite beneficial to both countries if they could work together. We are looking towards India to also try to come into maybe produce one and the other there, because I believe that for our country to move forward we are looking towards producing many of these things ourselves and stop relying on overseas purchases.
What challenges you encounter in the male-dominated Nigerian military?
Funny you should ask that. I’ve found them to be a group of highly trained well motivated officers. In fact, it is my belief that they must be among the best in the world: well-educated, very refined, very respectful, when I say respectful not in funny way, but they are very proud officers, but they are also extremely in short let’s say
they are officers and gentleman, that’s what they are. And they are very well educated and among the very best of the world. I’m very proud of them.
I have found no challenges as such. I relate to them as I would relate to anybody and they also relate to me likewise. And I think the synergy between the officers and myself has been incredible because being in- charge of the Navy for instance I have undertaken a talk of all the naval formations in the country. I’ve met all the officers and checked out all of these various formations and
I’ve been very pleased with what I have seen.
And the most important thing now like I said is to look inwards and start doing some things ourselves, especially in the area of rehabilitation of platforms. We need to rehabilitate quite a few platforms and that’s why I think the implementation of our Memorandum of Understanding will go a long way to ensuring that we can also have assistance from the Indian Navy Authorities or the Indian Naval industry to assist us in carrying out some of these projects.
“You’ve trained a group of officers that have been Heads of States of Nigeria,
and we’ll of course be very appreciative also if you could train some more of our
officers here in India”
India-Nigeria Ties
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Borno State MoU with Indian Companies
On January 10, 2013 G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e Nigerian State of Borno
s igned a Memorandum of Understanding with each of the two Indian companies, IL&FS Education and Technology and Bala Industries Private Limited.
The MoUs were signed by Governor, Kashim Shettima’s Secretary, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda for for advancing basic education through innovative and integrated learning solution and for poultry equipment supply for incubators, hatchery and brooding battery cages to the State Government. Dr Milan Sharma, Head for Africa Initiatives of IL&FS and Mr. S.M. Ketkar, Deputy General Manager of Bala Industries Private Limited signed on behalf of Indian companies.
Governor Shettima had visited India in September / October 2012 to explore possible cooperation with Indian Government and the private sector. The Government of India has expressed readiness to help Borno State in the transfer of technology for solar power projects to generate electricity.
The Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah made the pledge when he received Governor Shettima at his office in New Delhi on October 1, 2012. Governor also visited Maharashi Renewable Energy plant in New Delhi.
MoU signing with Borno State on January 10, 2013
Representatives of IL & FS and Bala Industries with High Commissioner of India, H.E. Mr. Mahesh Sachdev
India-Nigeria Ties
we can determine the future, the choice we make now, will determine the future," she said.
The lawmaker, who was honoured for being the first non ethnic Indian to speak at the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, said that the proposed committee would influence policy in the African and Indian sub-continent. She said since India has the largest Diaspora and remittance in the world just as Nigeria has the largest in Africa, the coming together of the two countries would be of great benefit to all. "We must unite because there is a need for greater interaction and collaboration between us as we are linked by common heritage of being colonised by the British," she said.
Dabiri-Erewa advised the home governments to recognise the Diasporas as their citizens and accord them all the rights and benefits enjoyed by home-based citizens and should not "treat them as outcasts". She equally advised that young graduates and seasoned professionals should be offered employment in their fatherland. "Such a move would enrich their sense of belonging and pride as contributors to nation-building." The lawmaker cited the example of India's Bollywood and Nigeria-Nollywood, which were contributing substantially to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the respective countries.
She counselled that the promotion of tourism in the homeland must exploit the opportunities offered by the citizens in Diaspora and should not only focus on attracting foreigners. "Our citizens in the Diaspora must be encouraged to come home to explore the beautiful and historical places in the land of their heritage". Dabiri-Erewa recommended the India Diaspora as a model, where wealth and population are huge resources which the homeland government should tap for nation-building.
Call for Nigeria-India Joint Diaspora Commission
The Nigerian legislator, Ms Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called for the establishment of a joint action committee on Diaspora between
Nigeria and India to harness the potential of both nations.
Ms Dabiri-Erewa, who is the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, made the call during a lecture titled "Heritage and Diaspora" delivered at the 11th Indian Diaspora Convention (Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2013) held on January 7 to 9, 2013 at Kochi, India.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Hon’ble Ms Dabiri-Erewa stated, "Nigeria and India are two great nations with huge Diaspora potential which require collaboration from the two countries in order to tap into". "Nigeria and India Diaspora, need to chart a path of collaboration because we have many things in common." "We cannot change the past but
Ms Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman House of
Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs
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India-Cameroon Ties
“My Visit to Defexpo 2012 Will Spur Bilateral Defence Ties” – Cameroon Defence Minister
Defence Minister of Republic of Cameroon H.E. Mr. Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo'o was a Special Invitee at the Defexpo 2012 held in New Delhi in March 2012. In an exclusive interview with journalist Harun Riaz in the presence of India’s Honorary Consul to Cameroon Mr. J. Ravikumar, the Senior Minister spoke at
length about India and the importance of developing bilateral ties.
Mr. Minister, Hearty welcome on first visit to our country! how will you describe your experience of India?
Before answering your question, I would like convey on behalf of the Government of Cameroon and on behalf of His Excellency President of Republic our gratitude to the Government of India for having invited this delegation to India for Defexpo India 2012 a major event which takes place once in 2 years.
Yes, it is true that it is my first visit to India, both in personal capacity as well as the Minister Delegate in Presidency in-charge of Defence. I and my delegation have been extremely impressed about the quality of welcome that was accorded to us. We are also impressed by the dynamism shown by India in economic areas.
How will you describe relevance of the Defexpo India 2012 in terms of defence requirements of Cameroon?
Defexpo India 2012 was an exhibition which was very, very impressive in terms of its size, in terms of its numbers, in terms of quality of organization. And
I was personally impressed by the quality of the products and the high technology of the products that were exhibited in various stands. I visited a number of stands and see the products that were exhibited. Our experience of Defexpo and exhibited products will itself form a base for cooperation between India and Cameroon.
Mr Minister you met with your counterpart, the Indian Defence Minister Hon’ble Mr A. K. Antony. May I ask what issues were discussed? Or can we say is this the beginning of a new defence relationship with India?
Yes I did have a very useful meeting with my homologue His Excellency Mr A.K. Antony, Indian Minister of Defence. It was, first of all, a useful meeting. I would like to express my gratitude to the minister for having taken out time during this very important Defexpo to meet the Cameroon delegation. I would also like to express my thanks to him for having invited Cameroon for the visit.
A lot of subjects were discussed to develop bilateral cooperation. I would not like to get into the details
at this stage because it has to be finally a decision emanating from His Excellency Mr Paul Biya, President of Republic of Cameroon. This will be a major step for Cameroon and India already very good friends. Cameroon wants to develop its relations with India further. India has already been cooperating with Cameroon in the area of agriculture in developing rice, maize and cassava cultivation. So this is just a beginning to develop relations in other sectors.
What role India can play in overcoming the challenges being faced by Cameroon’s armed forces?
To answer this question Cameroon’s preoccupation and its challenges are similar to whatever the challenges that are faced by organized countries. Cameroon is a country with lot of peace and President Paul Biya of Cameroon has emphasized on not only maintaining peace within the country and also developing peace with the neighbors. So, within the country there is absolutely no problem. But there are – it’s very important for us to protect the integrity of our frontier from various other infiltrations which take place across the frontier so as to give the country a base for economic boost.
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India-Cameroon Ties
The Defence Minister of Cameroon, Mr. Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo'o in an interview with journalist Harun Riaz in the presence of India’s Honorary Consul, Mr J. Ravi Kumar
One of the biggest promises President Biya has made recently is to develop the country in economic terms and also bring in democracy. And one of the important pre-conditions for this is secured frontier in terms of land and in terms of coastal lines.
In this kind of a problem, India which is a Third-World country but at the same time an emerging country can accompany Cameroon in attaining these opportunities.
Most of the information received by the Indian public about Afr ican countr ies including Cameroon is via West-dominated media. How will you describe Cameroon to Indians?
Cameroon is a country in Central African region that is touching Gulf of Guinea. And it’s a peaceful country. Got its independence on Jan 1, 1960 and under the leadership of His Excellency President Paul Biya a great emphasis has been given to maintenance of peace within the country and peace with neighbors. There’s been emphasis on development of economy and peaceful ly coexistence among people in Cameroon with multiplicity of ethnicity, languages and religion.
I would like also to add the variety Cameroon offers. Cameroon has a variety of climatic conditions which make it a right place for growing lots of things. It’s an agriculturalist’s dream because everything grows there. And Cameroon has enormous potential for tourism and in fact it’s called the miniature of Africa because every kind of region represents Africa in totality.
I noticed that Indian movies, especially in Hindi language, is popular in Cameroon. What is the reason? What is the history behind this popularity?
To reply to this interesting question, we need to start from the childhood of Cameroonians. From the very young age children have been watching Indian films and have been developing appreciation for Indian films. And it is the mellifluous sentiments and emotions and music are packed into Indian films and the beauty of the people. Men are handsome and it has to be accepted Indian ladies are very beautiful. All this have attracted Africans and Cameroonians to appreciate
I am glad you asked this question. To the embarrassment of the Indian Consul - who is present here - I would like to say that the Indian Consulate and the Indian Consul has contributed substantially in the development of relations between the two countries. The Consul has been working as a catalyst for realizing the existing bilateral potential. The initiative and manner in which the Indian Consul approaches the challenges are highly appreciated by all Cameroonians universally.
Indian films. It’s just not films. The people of India and people of Cameroon have a definite affinity to each other on the basis of just cultural cooperation. So in the area of cinema itself I think we should explore possibilities of cooperation.
What role India’s Honorary Consulate is playing in bringing Cameroon and India together?
He has come here specifically to accompany the Defence Minister for the Defence Exposition. I would like to thank and appreciate the Consul and request to continue his good work. Since the time he was appointed as the Consul to government of Cameroon there has been a lot of development and we hope he would continue the same kind of energy to develop the relations much further. I urge him to maintain this tempo.
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India-Cameroon Ties: President Biya is Keen to Improve Ties with India
During his second visit to New Delhi, Cameroon’s Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel
Nganou Djoumessi spoke to InfiniTies 2013 and answered questions how Cameroon can strengthen ties with India. His visit also coincided with that of H.E. Mrs. Catherine Bakang Mbock,
Cameroon Minister of Social Affairs.
Cameroon’s Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi (sitting on the right) with Minister of
Social Affairs, H.E. Mrs. Catherine Bakang Mbock and India's Honorary Consul to Cameroon, Mr. J. Ravikumar during their Septemmber 2012 visit to New Delhi
How will you sum up your September 2012 visit to India?
We spent five days in India and express my sincere thanks for the welcome I and my colleague, Minister of Social Affairs, Mrs. Catherine Bakang Mbock received. We both met with India’s Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Sharad Pawar and discussed about agriculture sector cooperation. We are happy with the welcome we received from
the Indian authorities including from Consul General, Mr. Ravi Kumar who is present here.
Our Head of State, H.E. Mr. Paul Biya is very keen to improve relationship with India. We believe India should be an example for us. You know Cameroon is a developing country. We have been making efforts to move ahead as far as development and infrastructure is concerned. In the area of agriculture we are
benefiting from the support from India. For the Line of Credit, I signed with Exim Bank during this visit, would like to say thank you for launching the US$ 42 million project named Cassava Project.
With this Cassava Project, Cameroon intends to acquire equipment to create farms in order to produce cassava. Cameroon intends to put in place a cassava industry and we informed this to India’s Minister of Agriculture. We also have got formal Line of Credit for rice and maize production. For this purpose, some tractors are being supplied. I was saying that tractors are being supplied with other agricultural equipments in a city named Ebolowa in Cameroon.
Although we have not yet been able to create the 5000 hectares of rice and 5000 hectares of maize, I believe we will do so, but now the buildings are available already with tractors available, they are being distributed to farmers and also to some schoolchildren for them to get acquainted with the use of tractors. So our main focus is to be able to create farms for rice, maize, and cassava production.
Mr. Minister, by when the Government of Cameroon will open a full fledged diplomatic
India-Cameroon Ties
Journalist Harun Riaz interviewing Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi
mission in New Delhi in view of the growing contacts with India?
Yes, why not. Our intention is to move further. During this visit we interacted with the Confederation
Mr. Minister, are there possibi l i t ies of few big projects between India and Cameroon?
We can build a long term partnership; Businessmen from both countries can do business together. I have given a list of Cameroon companies to Indian business entrepreneurs with whom we had a meeting. One of our main concerns is the rehabilitation of our National Center for Handicrafts.
What about your impression of India, as this is your second visit ?
Very good. Although I am always sitting in the room, but I know that the city is very nice, I'm impressed, you know, you have trees all over and then people are so simple, they are kind so I am impressed.
India Extends a $ 42 Million Line of Credit to Cameroon
Mr. T.C.A. Ranganathan, Chairman and Managing Director, on behalf of Exim Bank exchanging the Line of Credit Agreement for US$ 42 million for
financing Cassava Plantation Project in Cameroon with Mr. Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, Minister of Economy, Planning & Regional Development
on behalf of the Government of Cameroon, in New Delhi on September 14, 2012.
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has, at the behest of the Government of India, extended a
Line of Credit (LOC) of US$ 42 million to the Government of Cameroon, for financing Cassava Plantation Project in Cameroon. The LOC Agreement to this effect was signed in New Delhi, India on, September 14, 2012, by Mr. T.C.A. Ranganathan, Chairman and Managing Director on behalf of Exim Bank and Mr. Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, Minister of Economy, Planning & Regional Development on behalf of the Government of Cameroon.
This is the second LOC extended by Exim Bank to Cameroon at the behest of the Government of India. The first LOC of US$ 37.65 million was extended for financing (i) Maize Farm Plantation Project (USD 18.77 million) and (ii) Rice Farm Plantation Project (USD 18.88 million).
of Indian Industries. We were well received. Hence we requested that Cameroon should be considered as a guest country for the forthcoming Partnership meet which takes place in New Delhi this coming March 2013.
India-Cameroon Ties
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India-Benin Ties
Indian School in Benin Republic Obtains Indian Affiliation
Republic of Benin has had a small but vibrant Indian community for decades, mostly
located in capital Cotonou. However, till recently it lacked an institution to cater to the educational needs of their younger generation who had to mostly contend with French-language based schools.
A small beginning was made in May 2008 when “Indian International School of Benin” (IISB) was established to Cotonou-based in May 2008 as a modest primary school. It was formally inauguration on October 23 2009 by Hon’ble Dr Shashi Tharoor, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs during his historic visit to Republic of Benin.
A new landmark was created in short history of IISB on October 21 2011, when it received a “Fresh, Composite, Provisional Affiliation” from India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi for conducting secondary classes till March 2014. This followed a rigorous scrutiny of the school by the CBSE inspection team. The CBSE affiliation would enable the IISB to formally hold classes up to 10+2 level under Indian syllabus and autonomously conduct examinations on basis of test papers sent from the CBSE.
This affiliation is a well-deserved acknowledgement of the hard-work put in by the various IISB stakeholders. It also creates a higher level of educational comfort for IISB students who can now follow up 10+2 studies at IISB seamlessly with study in Indian tertiary institutions. The school, in fifth year of its existence, now has over 120 students – not only Indians, but also Nigerians and Beninese. This, in a way, is multinational recognition!
Main Building
IISB staff members with Principal Ms N. Katyal seated at the centre of the front row
Class rooms in Senior Building
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Chad: Coming Change in Indian Honorary Consul
Wh i l e I n d i a n Ambassador to Chad is resident in Abuja,
country’s interests in N’djamena are represented locally by an Honorary Consul.
Mr . Nass i r Arzamkhan, a Mauritian of Indian origin, has been Indian Honorary Consul in N’djamena since September 21 2002. During past decade since his appointment, Mr Nassir Arzamkhan has acquitted himself
in an excellent manner as the Indian Honorary Consul. Recently, Government of India nominated Mr. Badaoui Tidjani, a Chadian national, as his successor and the Government Republic of Chad has indicated its approval for the new nominee. Mr. Tidjani, is a reputed professional Petroleum Engineer and is currently engaged in related business. He is fluent in French, Arabic and English and looks forward to this assignment
which is likely to commence after remaining official formalities are completed during first few weeks of 2013.
While appreciating very competent work done by the outgoing Honorary Consul Mr. Nassir Arzamkhan, InfiniTies extends a warm welcome to Mr. Badaoui Tidjani. We are confident that as the first Chadian in this capacity, Mr. Tidjani would help bring the two countries closer.
107mm x 151mm.With best compliments from:
AFRICAN CONSUMER CARE LTD.Plot B, Olympic Street, Off Alakoso Avenue, Amuwo-Odofin Industrial Area, Festac Town, Lagos • Tel: +234-1-7619170 • Email: [email protected]
India-Chad Ties
Mr. Nassir Arzamkhan Mr. Badaoui Tidjani
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Nigerian National Security Advisor H.E. Col. (Retd) Sambo Dasuki unveiling a Nigerian painting
at India House. (Abuja; 23.11.2012)
First ever Indian Pavilion at Lagos International Trade Fair (3.11.2012)
Pictorial Almanac 2012
H.E. Mrs. Obada, Minister of State (Defence) with first ever Indian War College delegation to visit Nigeria. (Abuja; 15.10.2012)
A meeting of Indian Language School, Board of Trustees with High Commissioner (who is also the
Patron of ILS) in Chair (Lagos; 17.10.2012)
Indian High Commissioner hosted a lunch in honour of HE Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, prior to his visit to India. (Abuja; 17.2.2012)
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HC received a delegation representing Nigerian film industry to discuss cooperation with their Indian counterparts. (Lagos; 17.10.2012)
H.E. Cmdr Jonah Jang, Executive Governor of Plateau State, Mrs. Jang, H.E. Ms Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Minister
of Water Resources and Ambassador (Dr) Martin Uhomoibhi, Permanent Secretary, Foreign Ministry at a dinner in India House prior to Plateau Governor’s India
visit. (Abuja; 10.7.2012)
H.E. Alhaji Aliyu Wammako, Executive Governor of Sokoto state after a sent off
dinner at India House. H.E. visited India in December 2012 (Abuja; 6.9.2012)
Bayelsa state Executive Governor H.E. Mr. S. Dickson
with HC (Abuja; 29.6.2012)Indians in Nigeria celebrating Independence Day (Abuja; 15.8.2012)
Pictorial Almanac
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ies HE Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker of Nigerian House of Representatives attended a dinner at
India House. Among other dignitaries in picture is Hon’ble Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erwa, Chairperson of House Diaspora Committee.
High Commissioner hosted a working dinner in honour of HE Rt.Hon. Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi,CON, Executive Governor of Rivers State, Abuja (January 9, 2013)
India was the Guest Country at the Seminar organised at the 2nd Nigerian Air Expo 2012, Kaduna. Indian HC and Indian Defence Advisor made PPP presentations. (Kaduna; 16.5.2012)
Pictorial Almanac
New Tata vehicles being ceremonially inaugurated (Lagos; 17.10.2012)
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A view of Second Indian Products and Services Exhibition (IPASE-II) organised at Indian Chancery in
Lagos on March 30 2012.
HE Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources, HE Mrs Viola Onwuliri, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and HC at ceremonial cutting of cake at
Indian Republic Day Reception (Abuja; 26.1.2012)
Ms Sai Gargi, daughter of a prominent Indian Banker in Lagos, has distinguished
herself as a prodigious exponent of classical Indian dance forms. She also performed at Bharath Nrithyotsav organised by Nataraj
Music and Dance Academy at Kalabharati in Visakhapatnam on January 7, 2013.
H.E. Governor of Kano State with High Commissioner following a working dinner with
concerned economic stakeholders, Abuja, January 12, 2013
Pictorial Almanac
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HC hosted a dinner in honour of new Abuja Chamber team led by President Dr Nyaba and DG
Joe Wensinge (Abuja; 16.6.2012)
HE Alhaji Kashim Shattima, Executive Governor of Borno state at India House. HE visited India in
October 2012 (Abuja; 26.6.2012)
Indian High Commissioner was among first Heads of Missions to visit the site of Dana Air crash in which 153 persons, including two Indians,
perished. (Lagos 7.6.2012)
Under Second India-Africa Forum Summit, India offered a gift of Food Testing Lab to Nigeria. Picture shows High Commissioner handing over the offer to
H.E. Prof. Paul B. Orhii, DG NAFDAC (Abuja; 2.10.2012)
GTA Transformer Refurbishing Facility which was inaugurated by then Nigerian Minister of Power HE
Prof. Bart Nnaji. (Ikrodu; 7.6.2012)
Ceremony to Renew the MoU to have a Rotating India Chair at Lagos Business School being
signed by HC and Dean LBS (Lagos; 24.5.2012)
Pictorial Almanac
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HC hosted a dinner in honour of new office bearers of Nigerian Medical Association (Abuja; 19.5.2012)
In his capacity as Dean of Asian Ambassadors, Indian HC hosted a dinner for some departing
Ambassadors (Abuja; 17.5.2012)
HC with President of Kaduna Chambers at Indian Stall in Kaduna International Trade Fair (Kaduna; 30.4.2012)
A picture of Kaduna franchise of Dr Agarwal’s Eye Institute at Kaduna (Kaduna; 30.4.2012)
Prior to their India visit, HC invited HE Prof. Eta Okon Bassey Ewa, Nigerian Minister of Science &
Technology and his wife to India House for a send-off dinner (Abuja; 25.2.2012)
Pictorial Almanac
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Track II Diplomacy
During his State visit to Nigeria in mid-October 2007, the Indian Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his counterpart, President Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua signed the ‘Abuja Declaration on Strategic Partnership’. Among the three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) also signed during the visit was one among the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi and the Lagos-based Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). This was intended to trigger bilateral Track II diplomacy through promoting academic exchanges between two foremost think tanks in the Third World.
The Indian Council of World Affairs established in 1943, is a non-political and non-profit organisation that is devoted exclusively to research and study of international affairs and
India’s foreign relations, globally. About a decade ago, in 2001, the ICWA was declared institutions of national importance vide an Act of Parliament in 2001 and the Vice President of India is the ex-officio President of the ICWA. Its counterpart, the NIIA is an equally preeminent think tank that was established in 1961 with grants from the Federal and regional governments in Nigeria. It undertakes interdisciplinary research on pan-African as well as international affairs and has a strong focus on West African affairs.
In fulfilment of their shared commitment to the Track II dialogue process that was spelt out in the ‘Abuja Declaration’ and reinforced at India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), NIIA and ICWA commenced their mutual contacts. These culminated in NIIA participating in a two-day
India-Africa Academic Conference on May 11-12 2011 in Addis Ababa to pave the way for India-Africa Forum Summit-II two weeks later. ICWA under the leadership of Amb. Sudhir Devare, DG ICWA had organised the meeting in collaboration with the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development (EIIPD), and the African Union Commission Secretariat. The Nigerian scholars led by Prof. Bola A. Akinterinwa, DG NIIA contributed to the theme of the meeting namely; ‘Africa and India: A Partnership for Development and Growth’. The outcome of this exchange was a consensus among the participants that India and African countries could work together in various sectors, inter-alia, capacity building and human resource development, women’s empowerment, agricultural development and development of strategies for mitigating non- traditional threats and challenges, such as those arising from climate change, food security and maritime security.
On March 14 and 15 2012, the Indian scholars and diplomats and their Nigerian counterparts gathered again in a bilateral setting at NIIA in Lagos for second India-Africa Academic Conference (IAAC-II) providing a platform for two days of brain-storming sessions. The Nigerian delegation was led by the Director General of NIIA Professor, Bola A. Akinterinwa while the Indian team was headed by Ambassador Sudhir Devare, Director General of the ICWA. The intense discussions culminated in a host of new
The Second India-Africa Academic Conference, March 2012
Dr. Renu Modi*
Prof. Bola A. AkinterinwaDirector General,
Nigerian Institute of International Affairs
Mr. Sudhir T. Devarethe then Director General,
Indian Council of World Affairs
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Track II Diplomacy
initiatives that include enhanced exchange of scholars between India and Nigeria, a set of joint academic projects between ICWA and NIIA on Indian Ocean and containment of piracy, etc.
Further to the regular diplomatic and pol i t i ca l channe ls o f c o n v e r s a t i o n s b e t w e e n governments, alternative routes such as cultural and academic exchanges contribute significantly to a better understanding and relations between countries in the international comity of nations. In this specific case, Nigeria and India are two long standing friends and partners. The reinforcement of the entrenched good relations through the Track II dialogues in March 2012 gave an impetus to the strategic and economic ties between India and Nigeria that have been growing over the years.
Scholars were cognizant of the fact that Nigeria and India are important countries, both within their regional contexts, as well as globally. Whereas India is industrially more advanced, and therefore, in a better position to enrich economic relations and cooperation between the two countries, Nigeria is strategically positioned to add value to it through trade and other forms of cooperation with India. They also noted that strong relations with India could be strategic to Nigeria and to West Africa's goal of developing competitive domestic, as well as, regional economies in the foreseeable future.
The intense discussions culminated in a host of new initiatives that
include enhanced exchange of scholars between India and Nigeria, a set
of joint academic projects between ICWA and NIIA on Indian Ocean and
containment of piracy, etc.
The Conference noted that India and Nigeria’s bilateral relations go back to 1958, predating the latter’s independence in 1960. The current economic links between the two partners encompass oil and gas, petro-chemical and fertilizer production, agriculture, as well as small and medium scale enterprises. Nigeria, the most populous country in West Africa is generously endowed with natural resources, such as hydrocarbons and meets between 8 to 12 per cent of India’s energy requirements and therefore occupies a significant place in India’s diplomatic relations. This is reinforced by a shared colonial history and a convergence of outlook on international, political, social and development issues that have manifested in various meetings at international fora and strong commitment to the framework of South-South cooperation. However, these good bilateral relations are premised on strong complimentarity of interests. India is a partner of choice for capacity building in various social sectors, inter-alia, health, education, information technology and agricultural
development. As the world’s largest functional democracy that operates in a multi ethnic and multi religious context, India does have a unique bearing among its African partners.
During the October 2007 State visit to Nigeria, Prime Minister Singh stated, “Our partnership is for development. We need to share experiences on effective s t ra teg ies fo r sus ta inable development, poverty alleviation, healthcare facilities and universal education...” This theme was also picked up by the participants at the Second India-Africa Academic Conference at Lagos, who agreed that Track-II dialogues have the potential to enhance and expand ties between India and Nigeria. They also opined that meetings such as the Second Academic Conference hosted by NIIA and conduced in an informal setting, can augment political, economic and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
*Dr. Renu Modi is a senior lecturer and former Director of the Centre for African Studies, University of Mumbai, India. She was a member of the ICWA delegation to NIIA, March 14-15, 2012.
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Public Diplomacy
By Mrs. Riva Ganguly Das, Joint Secretary (Public Diplomacy) Ministry of External Affairs, India
My first visit to Nigeria, though short, was very satisfying. The warmth
of Nigerian people, especially of the academicians, business leaders, media persons & most importantly the youth has stayed with me. Their interest in India and keenness to know more has kindled a desire to come back and start a more substantive public diplomacy dialogue and engagement. INDIAFRICA: A Shared Future has truly set the ball rolling.
A unique experiment in Public-private partnership, INDIAFRICA
seeks to bring African and Indian young people closer through competition, collaboration and creative exchange. It has won the support of a wide cross-section of Nigerian society. This was evident from the mix of people who found time to attend the finals of the first INDIAFRICA Business Venture Competition in Lagos on September 25, 2012.
The large number of social e n t r e p r e n e u r s , c o r p o r a t e executives and students present encouraged the finalists and raised the level of competition. For me, it was also very heartening to
see women outnumber men on the nine member Jury Panel led by Dr Enase Okonedo, Dean, Lagos Business School. Ini Onuk, CEO, Thistlepraxis Consulting; Vivian Ani, Advisor, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan African University; Ozim Obasi, Senior Compliance Leader, GE Africa and Prof Aruna Reddy of Indian School of Business added varied perspectives to the jury process. They were joined by four senior professionals : Niyi Yusuf, CEO, Accenture Nigeria; Jahman Anikulapo, Editor, The Guardian on Sunday; Anoop Ratnaker Rao, COO, Naandi Foundation
INDIAFRICA: A Shared Future
Organisers and jury members (seen L to R) Amit Shahi, Programme Director, INDIAFRICA; Vivian Ani, Enterprise Development Centre; Anoop Ratnaker Rao, Naandi Foundation; Riva Ganguly Das,
Joint Secretary, Public Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt of India; Dr Enase Okonedo, Dean, Lagos Business School; Kartik Chandrasekar, First Light Accelerator and Prof
Aruna Reddy, Indian School of Business
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Public Diplomacy
and Karthik Chandrasekar, CEO, FirstLight Ventures.
Nine teams from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and India presented path breaking ideas that included collapsible fish ponds, solar powered crop harvesters for small and marginal farmers and innovative solutions aimed at meeting healthcare, education and energy challenges of Africa and India.
The Q&A sessions between each presenter and the jury members was a pointer to the importance that Nigerian society accords to entrepreneurship.
The post-lunch session was brought to life by the infectious music of the young Nigerian band, Quantum Vibes and great interactive sessions with Toyosi Akerele and Chude Jideonwo, two young and immensely successful first generation entrepreneurs who could be role models for the youth in all parts of Africa and India.
Conversations with the finalists, jury members and other guests have given me sufficient reason to
think of ways to further contribute towards building an even more mean ing fu l and mutua l l y rewarding partnership between our two countries. The evening also gave me an opportunity to meet several leaders of the Indian community in Lagos, who recounted stories of Nigerian
warmth and openness. I am grateful to my colleagues at the office of Indian High Commission in Lagos and all the people I met for helping me enjoy every bit of my packed schedule over the 48 hours that I was here. I hope to get back for more.
A section of the audience at the Awards Ceremony
The jury members deliberate after the finalists' presentations
Shalina Nigeria advertorial
Thursday, January 17, 2013 12:53:52 PM
Shalina Nigeria advertorial
Thursday, January 17, 2013 12:53:52 PM
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Inauguration of the Diamond Ark store in Arjun Nagar
In-depth
Following his fashion studies at JD Institute in New Delhi, Young Hillary John decided to try his luck in India by introducing Indo-
Afro style with the brand name “DIAMOND ARK”. The fashion designer recently opened his outlet near Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi. “When I came back to India in 2010 after two years to study fashion designing my old friends welcomed me”, said Hillary and added, “I want to live in this country for lifetime and make a mark in Bollywood and Nollywood plus the Indian market is vast and offers opportunities to showcase talent”.
Young Nigerians Excelling in DelhiIn a relatively new development,
a number of Nigerians have made a mark by setting up
small businesses in New Delhi. They leverage growing interest in Africa among Indians and
increasing number of Africans in Indian Capital.
Jenny working on an Indian customer at the Salon in Malviya Nagar
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In-depth
Hillary faced problems to find a space on rent to launch his fashion outlet. Luckily, his landlady owned a small unit in Arjun Nagar near Safdarjung Enclave and rented it out to him. With the passage of time, his creative work displayed at his outlet is receiving ever greater appreciation. His outlet is often visited by diplomats from the Nigerian High Commission as well as other Nigerians residing in the National Capital Region. To his surprise, he was even invited to be one of the judge at a recent Mr. India contest.
Prince Franklin David and Jenny Brown, both Nigerians during their India visits, too, noticed the increasing African expatriate population in Delhi. 30-year old Prince found that although there were many unisex African salons in the city but none were exclusively for African women who wanted weavings - as they do not have long natural hair. They came up with the idea of a women only African beauty salon. Within a short span of three months their women-only beauty salon in Malviya Nagar, South Delhi was set up and has started attracting African customers.
Jenny Brown, who is 26 and is the hair stylist, says that of her clients, the Africans are particular about hair weaving while the Indian women only come for hair straightening or the nail art.
Prince admits that language is a barrier while dealing with Indian customers. “I am trying to learn local Hindi language so that I can express myself which sometimes is troublesome while interacting with Indians”.
After pursuing Interior Designing studies at Amity University in Noida, 21 year old Ugochi Latoya Igwilo, Another Nigerian, decided to try her luck in getting a job with an Indian company. Delhi based firm ‘42 MM Architecture’ took her on board following her
Emmanuel Ekufu and his wife Rebecca at their Saree showroom in Gurgaon
Emmanuel Saree are popular among Nigerian women
Students of Satyam Fashion Institute in Noida with fashion designer Hillary John
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this is leading to a new African sub-culture in the city. There are more than a dozen restaurants run by African expatriates serving Nigerian cuisine.
One such restaurant is BNG Corner in Arjun Nagar. Run by George Christopher, a Nigerian married to a Mizo girl. The restaurant has been attracting steady customers, in view of the thousand plus population of Nigerian community in and around Safdarjung Enclave locality.
We also ran into Emmanuel Ekufu, yet another successful Nigerian in the National Capital Region. 33 year old Emmanuel is married to an Indian national, Rebecca and they have two young kids, Christabel and Blessing. Emmanuel met and married Rebecca in United States. However, decided to settle in India in 2007 in view of promising business opportunities.
They started a Sari manufacturing unit in Varanasi and made Gurgaon their residence. The
internship. Ugochi thinks India is a good place to hone her skills. She also mentioned the difference between the Indian and Nigerian architecture- India has a detailed, festive, emotional architecture, while Nigerian historic architecture is aggressive and less detailed and the modern architecture is influenced with the western culture.
“My father has always thought highly of India's education system. I have my family (Uncle and aunt) here in Delhi doing business. My sister is also pursuing a course in Bio-technology from Amity University. I have friends in Delhi and often stay with them and familiar with the festivals such as Diwali, Lohri and Karwa-Chauth - when women fast for the long life of their husbands”, adds Ugochi.
According to a rough estimate there are about 15,000 African expatriates in Delhi, majority of whom are Nigerians living in Arjun Nagar, Malviya Nagar, Uttam Nagar, and Kingsway Camp. And
couple manufactures silk saris, and exports them to Africa, Europe, America, and Middle East and to some parts in India as well.
Their company manufactures Indian style silk saris as well African Georges which are popular with the ladies in Africa. They disclosed that the reason to start this business here in India was that the dress that women wear in Nigeria is similar to the Sari in terms of length, width and style.
According to a recent news report in the Hindustan Times newspaper, there are several African stores in areas such as INA and Kingsway Camp where African spices, dried fish, Nigerian palm oil and the popular Digger and Ugu leaves are available. On Sundays, The Shiloh Global Worship Centre, an African church in Saket, also serves as a gathering point for hundreds of men and women from various African countries.
Inputs from Harun Riaz, Nusra and Khushboo Kumari
Special Story 1
Hillary John's fashion collection with two Indian models
Interior Designer Ugochi Igwilo working on a project in her South Delhi office
Prince Franklin David at Jenny's Salon in Malviya Nagar
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An Indian House for Nigerian Art
In April 2008, against the backdrop of record-breaking auctions of contemporary
and “post war” art in London and New York, a Lagos-based start-up called “ArtHouse Contemporary” (www.arthouse-ng.com) made a modest attempt to introduce the auction experience to Nigerian art. The result: a packed room of bidders and spectators and over 90% of the works on offer being sold, many with some unprecedented figures. Bruce Onobrakpeya, a prolific and notable senior ar t i s t who predominantly sold his work from his home studio in Mushin Lagos, stood up in disbelief as his work “Greater Nigeria” finally went under the hammer for the sum of 9.2 million Naira (then nearly US$ 75,000) after an extended battle between multiple bidders. This figure was nearly double the estimate.
Nigerian media heralded the positive outcome of first ever auction with bold-letter headlines, seeing this as arrival of the Nigerian art market. In an instant, ArtHouse Contemporary and its founder, Ms Kavita Chellaram,
Internationally, the Auction House – known by its centuries-old incarnations from England and France like Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Philips’ – has been an inseparable partner in mature art markets.
According to Ms Chellaram, an Indian based in Nigeria, the spectacular growth in awareness and interest in Indian art over the previous twenty years influenced her to start ArtHouse Contemporary. Sotheby's held their first dedicated auction of Indian Art in 1986 and continues to hold at least two per year. Local Indian startups art auction houses such as Ossian’s and Saffronart have also began hold multiple auctions a year. They have even innovated to extend their reach: for instance, Saffronart and Astaguru conduct live, online auctions. The demand-supply dynamic, the surge in domestic awareness and growing appreciation of Indian art has pushed the prices sharply upwards.
Ms Chellaram’s initiative on Nigerian art had a clear objective, viz. “to create and maintain a sustainable momentum as well as
Nigeria, a veritable mosaic of tribal and ethnic diversity, has a glorious artistic heritage, dating back at least two millennia. Nok Terracotta, Igbo Ukwu and Benin bronzes have illustrated various forms of artistic perfection in Nigeria. Similarly, each of over three hundred tribes in Nigeria has its cultural traditions involving both performing and plastic arts.
In modern era, Nigerian paintings and sculpture and mixed media works have evolved in unique and fascinating manner. These reflect a melange of impetuses: from influence of rich traditional art styles to poignant pressures of contemporary life. In this article, we appreciate the contribution of “ArtHouse Contemporary” in promoting Nigerian art over past five years. This Lagos-based concern is led by an Indian, Ms Kavita Chellaram, herself an aficionado of Nigerian art.
became household names within Nigerian art circles. All agreed that this auction of Nigerian art was both momentous and unexpected. It signified a real change for those who most wanted: the artists themselves and the collectors of Nigerian art.
Demas Nwoko, the Wise Man, Wood, Undated
Ms Kavita Chellaram
By Victor Ehikhamenor
Special Story
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a credible secondary market like anywhere else in the world.” Her major achievement: transparency in pricing. She expects and hopes that more Nigerians will be encouraged to buy and collect art: “alongside wealth generation, home ownership in Lagos is growing at unprecedented rates”. As elsewhere, an enthusiastic and sizable local patronage must exist to promote the arts in Nigeria.
The success of regional art houses in other parts of the world lends support to Ms Chellaram’s timely initiative on Nigerian art. Colin
to ART+AUCTION magazine: “Fast-forward to 2011: We sold more than $904 million in Asia with 27 auctions. So, within 25 years, we increased our turnover by a factor of more than 500.” Now about 16% of Christie’s $5.7 billion global sales came from its Hong Kong auction house. This attests to the importance of auction houses to a regional art market.
ArtHouse strongly believe that what they envisioned five years ago is now being realised and the Nigerian art market is heading in
Before ArtHouse arrived on Nigerian art scene in 2008, despite the quality of the works offered by Nigerian artists, there was little regulated method to evaluate and monitor the value of their works. Collectors could not really put a reputable value on what was being sold beyond the pricing of the artist or the gallery. In absence of an exit point for the owners, collecting Nigerian art could not be considered an investment – it was merely a luxury.
In past five years, ArtHouse has changed this profoundly. According to Lola Adesioye of Arise Magazine, “There is no doubt that this invigoration is part of a larger, growing enthusiasm for the arts in general in Nigeria. It comes at a time when both the local music industry and Nollywood film industry are also blossoming. However, the main reason for the art boom, quite simply, is money. Art is now seen as a money-spinner: a viable business opportunity and investment tool for people who not only enjoy art but want to profit, too.”
From the time of establishment of the auction house, Ms Chellaram and her team have travelled to source works around the country, to places like Zaria in the north and Nsukka in the east to get art works that probably would never have surfaced. Their efforts have brought renewed interest in old artists like Ben Enwonwu, Erhabor Emokpae, Ben Osawe, Yusuf Grillo and others because their works were previously difficult to purchase at the existing points of sale. One of the main objectives of ArtHouse is to bring rare works by these artists to market.
Many great Nigerian artists have emerged from various schools around the country since the 1950s. The institutions at the forefront of producing these noteworthy artists include - but
Sheaf, chairman, Asian operations at Bonham’s, an established British auction house, says about the concept: “It provides a very public forum, giving you confidence about not just the authenticity of what you are buying, but also the level at which you are buying.” Christie’s first arrived in Hong Kong in 1984 and held their first auction two years later realising $1.8 million from only two sales. But as Francois Curiel, head of Christie’s Asia quipped
right direction. However, the buyer motivation and interest still need to be maintained.“It is all about exposing our artists to collectors. That way we keep sparking the market and eventually it will catch on,” Ms Chellaram enthuses. Giles Peppiatt, director of contemporary African art at Bonham’s noted recently in The Economist: “There’s a lot of money in Nigeria. And though it might sound cynical, money and art are inextricably linked.”
Yusuff Grillo, Blue Moon, 1966, Oil on Board, 60 X 60 CM, 23.5 X 23.5 Inches
Special Story
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are not limited to - the University of Nsukka in the eastern part of Nigeria, Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, and Auchi Federal Polytechnic in the mid-west. Traditional schools like the Oshogbo school have also contributed artists such as Twins Seven-Seven, Jimoh Buraimoh, Muraina Oyelami amongst others. These artists’ eminence coincides with a significant shift in art execution between the 1950s and early‘60s. Nigeria began to experience a radical revolution in visual art through this new crop of artists and art students.
Chellaram puts it, “Whatever we put on the auction block we want to sell. We are very passionate about what we sell. We represent both the buyer and seller's best interests. We want our buyers to feel they have purchased fairly, and for our sellers to feel they have received maximum value for their pieces.”
ArtHouse has also featurd new and conceptual works from the studios of younger artists to encourage their growth. In a nod to developments in the Indian auction market, there is great
for their works in Nigeria itself – and rapidly growing interest by local collectors.
Having successfully conducted their 9th auction of 111 lots on November 26 2012, ArtHouse will hold their 10th auction in May 2013. At the same time, it is planning new initiatives to promote the evolving Nigerian art scene. Kavita Chellaram intends to collaborate with international institutions, curators and patrons to create spaces - both permanent and temporary - where people can view works by Nigerian artists.
The noticeable change in style and execution of art by those referred to as the “Zaria Rebels” was not only intense, but also revolutionary and inspiring. These rebels, made up of such revered artists as Okeke, Onobrakpeya, Grillo, Demas Nwoko are referred to as the “Masters” of Nigerian contemporary art today.
Since the first ArtHouse auction where Onobrakpeya fared so well, works by other artists such as Ben Enwonwu have, once again, become highly coveted. As Ms
focus on contemporary Nigerian works which continue to excel across generations. These works include those practicing in the Diaspora, not necessarily only those of Nigerian descent like Yinka Shonibare, Sokari Douglas Camp or Chris Ofili but those who schooled and practiced in Nigeria before migrating. Artists like Victor Ekpuk, Nnenna Okore, Emeka Udemba, and a host of others may have left Nigeria to work in what is a more rewarding and supportive environment abroad but they are achieving high prices
She also hopes to charitably support art students and young graduates. Despite a string of her successes during past five years, she still believes in need for sustained efforts to bring the value of Nigerian art to the levels of other emerging markets. She is encouraged by growing interest in Nigerian art – both at home and internationally. On their part, swelling ranks of such connoisseurs would certainly hope that she continues to take Nigerian art to ever greater recognition and acclaim.
ArtHouse Exhibits
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Indian Healthcare
India-Nigeria: Areas of Convergence in the Health Sector
In early 2010 the Nigerian President Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s long absence
for treatment in Saudi Arabia had made headlines across the Continent. In 2007, he had sought medical care in Germany after he collapsed during his presidential campaign (BBC Hausa, 2010). This year, four heads of state, who are no more sought treatment abroad were; Malam Bacai Sanha (Guinea Bissau) in France, Bingu wa Mutharika (Malawi) in South Africa, John Atta Mills (Ghana) in USA and Meles Zenawi in Belgium. The list of political elites is merely illustrative and validates the fact that the leaders of African countries do not have faith in their own medical system and vote with their feet, at times of medical emergency to access healthcare outside of their own state borders.
The phenomenon of seeking medical treatment across one’s state borders to another country, popularly known as medical tourism is ‘loosely defined as travel with the aim of improving one’s health, an economic activity that entails trade in services…’ is not a new phenomenon (Bookman and Bookman, 2007: p. 1). This phenomenon of trade in health services in developing countries was noted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) over two decades ago, in the year 1989 (cited in Bookman and Bookman, 2007: p.2).
The privileged few in Africa, who have big budgets, usually go to Europe or the USA for treatment. India is the destination for many from the middle and low income strata – they come here for high quality healthcare at relatively affordable prices in private hospitals. Large segments of the populations in African countries, who live below the social safety nets and need effective healthcare, cannot afford expensive treatment in Europe, India, or at home. What does a context of such disparity; say about the health sector in Africa? Why are medical facilities so inaccessible in so many parts of Africa?
The Health Sector in Nigeria
The public healthcare system in most parts of Africa is inadequate. Several factors contribute to deficiencies in the healthcare sector on the continent. An empirical study of the health indicators shows that investments in the
health sector is low, hospitals are understaffed, and medical training colleges are inadequate. Low salaries and limited career prospects often compel trained medical professionals to migrate to other countries.
Low budget allocation as a percentage of total resource allocated has lead to a deficient health delivery capacity at the country level. There is a higher incidence of mortality and morbidity in resource deficient settings. In fact, African nations have long identified inadequacies in their health sector and sought to ameliorate them. For instance, under the Abuja Declaration of 2001 the AU member states pledged to allocate at least 15 percent of their annual budget to the health sector. While health sector allocations by African countries have been going up, these are still mostly well below this benchmark. The general expenditure on health as a percentage of total government expenditure for Nigeria is only 6.4 percent (cited in World Health Organization (WHO), 2011: table 7, p. 132). There are several African countries such as Rwanda and Tanzania which Allocate more than ten percent to the health sector (Ibid, pp. 132-134).
In addition to poor health infrastructure, the high cost of medicines in the country has made healthcare out of reach of the common man. The consumer price ratio, i.e., the cost of medicine
By Dr. Renu Modi Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre for African Studies
University of Mumbai
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available locally, as compared to the international reference price (IRP) for Nigeria is 3.5 times higher in the public sector and 4.5 times more in the private sector (Ibid: table 6, pp.116-125).
The high costs of medicines make it difficult for a large segment of the population to buy them. Lack of access to medicines contravenes the Millennium Development Goal no. 8 that acknowledges the need for access to affordable medicines for all, mainly the poor (Ibid: p.115). Against the above backdrop, there is an urgent need to build capacity in the healthcare and related sectors in terms of access to; funding, skilled workforce, medicines at affordable costs and inter country partnerships bringing in state of the art technology to Nigeria.
India- Nigeria: Areas of Convergence
There are significant areas of convergence between India and Nigeria in the healthcare sector. At the India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) of 2008, India reaffirmed its ability to offer ‘training and capacity building for health professionals and physicians; sharing of experience and information on healthcare systems development and community health programmes…’ (IAFS, 2008: p.16). Indian engagement with Nigeria in the health and related sector has been through three initiatives namely; capacity building, export of pharmaceuticals including generics, treatment of Nigerian patients in India and establishment of state of the art hospitals in Nigeria.
Capacity Building
I n d i a m a d e a n o f f i c i a l announcement of its capacity building initiative in the health sector at the first IAFS of 2008. She committed to ‘enhance the indigenous manufacturing c a p a c i t i e s a n d t o m a k e
available affordable and quality pharmaceutical products, provide technical cooperation in controlling HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and other communicable diseases; and help with local production of oral rehydration therapy and cooperate to combat the menace of counterfeit medicines’ (IAFS 2008: p.16). India also launched the telemedicine infrastructure in all the AU member states in
since it was launched in 1964. Under the technical courses offered at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research – SAS Nagar, Punjab applicants from across Africa are trained on pharmaceuticals and related issues (MEA, 2012: p.3). Nigerian medicos have been trained in India, under the recently launched C.V. Raman Fellowship for African researchers, to conduct
High Commissioner Mahesh Sachdev meeting with a delegation of Association of Pharmaceutical Importers of Nigeria. (Lagos; 3.11.2012)
Africa in 2009, as a part of the Pan-African e-Network project funded through the aid to Africa program. This project bridges the “digital divide” between the partner countries through a satellite and fibre optic network and offers “medical diagnostic and other services to which they would not ordinarily have access due to distance and/or limitation in the availability of specialists” (Ibid).
Capacity building has been an ongoing exercise through the government of India’s Indian T e c h n i c a l a n d E c o n o m i c Cooperation (ITEC) Programme and its corollary, the Special Commonwealth Assistance for Africa Programme (SCAAP),
collaborative research in the field of science and technology. In 2010, five recipients of the Raman Fellowship were from Nigeria of which three were invited for studying and doing research in India in the field of endocrinology, cancer research and biotechnology (Government of India, 2011). Training in pharmaceutical and medical sciences can bolster the much needed domestic capacity in these two sectors.
India-Nigeria: partnerships in the pharmaceutical sector
To increase access to affordable medicines, Nigeria is partnering with India through trade and exchange in pharmaceuticals. At their fifth Joint Commission
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session co-chaired by the two Foreign Ministers in New Delhi in March 2011, India and Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Department of Pharmaceuticals and Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). This MoU aimed to further, “mutual trade in good quality drugs, drugs testing and analysis, detection and prevention of supply of adulterated, fake, drugs and the education, training and capacity building of the personnel involved in this field” (MEA, 2011). Indian companies are WHO pre-qualified and can transfer knowledge and technology to Nigeria (Orhii, 2011).
Pharmaceuticals comprise a large share of the India-Nigeria trade and foreign direct investments (FDI). Indian pharmaceuticals companies have their footprints in Africa. One of the leading
Docetere at a fraction of the cost of drugs sourced from multinationals (Ramesh, 2007).
India promotes its pharmaceutical companies in Africa, through exhibitions to showcase its capacity in this sector. A Buyer-Seller Meet organised in Lagos in March 2011 by India’s Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Counci l (Pharmexcil), with over 42 Indian pharmaceutical companies to explore market opportunities in Nigeria was possibly biggest sectoral event in that country. It was jointly inaugurated by Indian High Commissioner at Nigeria Mahesh Sachdev and Director General NAFDAC Prof. Paul B. Orhii.
Further, at the annual India-Africa Conclaves held since 2005, Indian and Nigerian counterparts have been able to interact at the business to business (B2B) sessions to liaison and promote trade and capacity building initiatives in
India is the top supplier of pharmaceuticals to Nigeria, a position that reflects the confidence that the Nigerian consumers repose in drugs from India that are produced in the country or exported from India. However, being trusted market leader in Nigeria, Indian pharmaceutical products have frequently faced the challenge of counterfeiting and faking by unscrupulous elements. These have been dealt effectively by concerted action by the regulatory agencies of the two countries under terms of the MoU.
The representative of NAFDAC, at an interaction with representatives of Indian pharma companies at the Federation of Indian Chamber for Commerce and Industry (FICCI) clarified that Nigeria did not plan to define counterfeit drugs to include generic “… because we know the importance of generics" (IANS, 2011).
Indian generics are affordable and save lives: India has long been considered ‘the pharmacy of the developing world and Indian generics such as anti-retrovirals (ARVs) provide medicines at a fraction of the cost of drugs produced by multinationals. Eighty percent of people living with HIV who receive treatment in developing countries use Indian generic ARVs and over 90% of pediatric AIDS medicines are supplied by Indian generics that have brought down the costs from about 655 USD/ month in the 1990s to less than 13 USD/ month today!! (TAC website, 2012)
Growing concerns were expressed on the eve of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement meeting on the anti-public health proposals in the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and there have been appeals from civil society that India must not give into pressure from EU to accept provisions that will restrict generic production of affordable, high-quality generic medicines for
The outcome of treatment in India has a very high rate of success due to accurate diagnosis and treatment at
Indian hospitals
companies, Ranbaxy Nigeria has had a presence in Nigeria since May 1987. It has a strong presence in Ethical, OTC, Generic and the ARV segments through local manufacturing of liquids and other dosage forms (Ranbaxy, 2012).
About five years ago, in mid 2007, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (Hyderabad), one of India’s largest pharmaceutical company, set base in Lagos with the aim of tapping into Nigeria's $280-million/year pharmaceutical market and offer international quality products for gastroenterology, diabetes, and cancer with brands like Omez, Reclide, Diavista, Osetron, and
this segment. Requirements of drugs in Nigeria are also met through exports of pharmaceutical products from India.
Indian pharma exports to Nigeria: The continent is a major export destination for Indian pharma products. India is the top exporter of pharmaceuticals to Nigeria, supplying over a third of the market. India’s exports in this sector were valued at US $ 1484 million in 2008-2009 and rose to US $ 1899.4 million in 2010-2011. Pharmaceuticals comprised about ten percent of the total exports to Africa in this period. (CII-EXIM Bank Conclave, 2012: p.63).
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HIV, cancer, mental illness, heart disease, and others and thus harm public health 3 (Ibid).
Medical tourism of Nigerians to India
Nigeria is gradually building her healthcare capabilities, such as physical infrastructure such as multi-specialty hospitals and acquires highly trained medicos and supporting personnel. This is often happening in collaboration with Indian partners. In the interregnum, Nigerian patients are travel l ing to India for healthcare.
Foreign hospitals often place advertisements in Nigerian newspapers to woo patients. Although their Indian counterparts have not joined this campaign, their catchy tagline of “First World Treatment at Third World Costs” has attracted a lot of patients from all over the world including Nigeria (Modi, 2011: p.117). The cost of surgery in India can be one-tenth of what is in the United States or Western Europe, and sometimes even less. The grant of long term 'medical visa' for one year or for the period of treatment, whichever is less, for patients and their caregivers has acted as a facilitator for this phenomenon of offshore healthcare popularly referred to as ‘medical tourism’. The ‘medical visas’ extended by the Indian High Commission in Nigeria is a smooth process as compared to the stress they go through for procuring visas to
countries like US, UK or even Switzerland (Akinboade, 2012).
The outcome of treatment in India has a very high rate of success due to accurate diagnosis and treatment at Indian hospitals. Three cases of successful treatment of Nigerian patients are cited here, to illustrate the state of the art medical facilities mainly in Indian private hospitals. The first case is of a young Nigerian child Dike. India's first swap of liver transplant surgery took place on this 18-month infant and a 44-year-old Mumbai resident Priya, at the Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi (IANS, 2009).
The second success story is of Margaret Eremionkhale, popularly known as the ‘metallic lady. Margaret suffered from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), joint pains since 2003 and is “…now surviving on metallic hips, metallic knees and a metallic spine” and the entire treatment cost her about Rs.22 lakh ($47,800) (IANS, 2012).
At the same hospital, 51 year old Morufu Shuaibu was treated for a bullet injury that was embedded in his body for over a decade, since he was a victim of a riot in his country (Sonkar, 2011). News reports of successful outcomes of medical treatment in India combined with favorable word of mouth publicity by patients who went back satisfied after their treatment in India has lent credibility to Indian hospitals.
Though treatment in India is an option available to Nigerians, access to medical care facilities and drugs within the country is certainly a more viable, affordable and preferred alternative. This is even more so for the treatment of long term chronic ailments. For the treatment of long term diseases that require constant monitoring and treatment, travel to a foreign country is definitely not a preferred option. In pursuance of its objective of “improving access to quality healthcare and affordable hospitals and improving human capital …” outlined in the Vision 2020 document, Nigeria is working towards capacity building at home.
Building Local Capacity
The establishment of the Primus Super Spec ia l t y Hosp i ta l (popularly known as the Indian hospital) in Abuja has brought Indian medical skills to the country and thus provided access to a large segment of the populace who are unable for travel abroad for treatment for various reasons.
The Primus Hospital in Abuja is a multi-specialty state of the art facility committed to providing ethical, reliable, high quality and cost effective health care services locally to Nigerian patients for the first time. It is hoped that this would set a new paradigm in bringing the world class healthcare to Nigeria.
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Indian Doctors’ Mission Conducts 400 Polio Corrective Surgeries in NigeriaIn December 2012, a 25-member Indian team of doctors and volunteers went to Nigeria for a 10 days medical mission to conduct polio corrective surgeries
in Abuja. This medical mission was dedicated to combat polio, generate awareness and help the polio-affected children through corrective surgeries. Mr. Rajendra K. Saboo a prominent businessman and former President of
Rotary International on his return from Nigeria informed InfiniTies.
with me to African countries earlier. I also started talking to our counterparts in Nigeria i.e. Rotary leadership in that country and this is how we developed the entire project and sought a Matching Grant from The Rotary Foundation. This is how The Rotary Foundation became part of this project.
Now coming to the project itself, we were total of 25 people comprising of the Indian team with 19 doctors and 6 non-medical volunteers. The team of medicos consisted of 12 orthopedics, 5 anesthesiologists, 1 general surgeon and 1 pathologist. The team was there for 10 days with 8 working days during which 400 surgeries and procedures were successfully done on 353 children. Almost 95% of the children were coming from the northern part of Nigeria where Polio was most endemic. The states in Nigeria concerned were Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi, Nainja, Yobe, Nasarawa, Borno, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. There were several cases where multiple surgeries had to be done on one child.
The success of this project was the result of remarkable cooperation amongst India and Nigeria team and a word has to be said about the dedication and commitment of Rotarians in Nigeria. But for their total devotion, such project would not have been possible.
Mr. Saboo, can you provide details of your recent visit to Nigeria leading a medical mission of 18 Indian doctors and volunteers courtesy Rotary Foundation?
The polio corrective surgery mission that was completed recently was initiated by Rotarians in India. We had committed
will try to reach out to other endemic countries to share our experience, knowledge and also extend ourselves in help and support to the endemic countries so that they can also join the rank of non-endemic countries and help in reaching out our final destination - a “Polio-free world” sooner.
ourselves at Polio Summit 2011 held in February that having achieved non-endemic Polio status we Rotarians in India
The idea for this mission was born, and I got together a group of doctors who had good knowledge and experience having traveled
A set of 20 incubators were presented by IPRIP Kalyan Banerjee (fourth from right) from District 3130 for use in Nigerian hospitals, in the presence
of India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Mahesh Sachdev, (3rd from right) District Governor 3130 Dr. Girish Guney, (2nd from right) and District
Governor Felix Obadan of District 9125 Nigeria (right)
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About 600 pre-screened children in batches from the Polio endemic areas of North were brought on daily basis in groups at the National Youth Service Corps Camps at Yobe. A team of our Indian doctors and volunteers would medically screen the patients and then send them over to two hospitals, each almost 60kms apart from Abuja; one at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, and the other one at Federal Medical Centre at Keffi in Nassarawa State for surgeries.
The Indian team had carried medical equipment, supplies and other consumables weighing nearly 1150 kg and this was distributed between the two operating centers. In addition, the local hospitals were also helping and providing the support. The heavier medicines and surgeries consumables such as transfusion liquids, plaster of Paris and bandages etc. were purchased locally. Thus you can see, it was a joint effort in which the two teams worked and joined together to reach out to the children in need.
What level of assistance your team received from the Government of Nigeria?
To simply put the assistance and support, our team and in fact, the whole project received from the Govt. of Nigeria was outstanding and extraordinary. Right from our arrival when we were received, we had government representatives with us. While traveling to the two hospitals and other patients we had total security covering our vehicle movements. More importantly we could see the tremendous work that Rotary in Nigeria had done working together with the government. The children were transported from their places of residence from different states to Abuja through government courtesy. Our own transport system was all provided, courtesy the government. A good part of the logistics was assisted by the government. The frequent presence of the senior government officials to
interact with us reflected the total support.
The highlight, of course, was the personal involvement of the Health Minister of Nigeria Hon’ble Prof. C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu, He was there to inaugurate the whole programme. Then he had to go to South Africa but even from there he was monitoring our activities and was checking up if our work was proceeding smoothly. On return he hosted a grand dinner in honour of the visiting Indian team at which all the senior officials of the Health Ministry and hospitals were present to top all that the Health Minister, himself an orthopedic surgeon on my request came and donned operation theatre dress and worked with the Indian team to operate a child.
Credit has to be given to the Rotarians in Nigeria who had connections with the government and they were the ones who coordinated with di f ferent government officials, getting full guidance and total support from the Health Minister himself. This kind of cooperation between Rotary in India and Nigeria together wi th Government
of Nigeria very clearly showed the seriousness with which the government had taken our mission and is determined to End Polio in the country.
In your meeting with the Health Minister of Nigeria, what issues were discussed?
The Health Minister of Nigeria Prof. C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu was very complementary to what India had achieved and was particularly referr ing to the outstanding leadership provided by India’s Health Minister Hon’ble Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad and his leadership by the Health Ministry. He welcomed the idea of sharing the experience and knowledge of Indian including the Rotarians who have been in the vanguard of the Polio eradication programme and thus, supported the efforts made by Rotary. The Health Minister has been and continues to be an active Rotarian. This particular polio corrective surgery mission cannot be the only way of achieving Polio-free status. The Hon’ble Health Minister of Nigeria indicated the commitment made by the President of the country H.E. Jonathan Goodluck of achieving zero case level within 2013. Whether
Dr. Rajiv Pradhan, Project Counsellor, (second from left) briefing a nurse at the hospital in Keffi to address the parents of the
polio-afflicted children who have been operated, to take home the message that other parents should learn a lesson and immunize
their children against polio
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this is achieved or not but one could see the resolve through the very emphatic statement made by the country’s Health Minister. He also indicated that he would be looking forward to seeking all help that can be given including the expansion of the surgeries, establishment of post-surgery care such as manufacture of caliper, training of local orthopedic surgeons etc. In addition, how the grassroots administration has been networking to capture every child was also something that the government would like to learn from their counterpart in India.
functioning of the government as also the ethos of the peoples.
This was the 2nd such medical mission which you undertook to Nigeria. How will you describe the average health of Nigerians, and the status of polio disease in the country today?
In fact, it was third medical mission in which I have been involved. The first one was to Lagos and Abeokuta. A few years later it was a mission to
reaching out to such suffering children and families as a friend and asking them to protect other children from this crippling disease by immunizing through the simple process of Polio vaccine drops.
One cannot make any comment about the average health of Nigeria. The answer lies in the fact that every developing country where the poverty makes a large part of the population there one would find different standards of health of the people. My own experience is that even in India we have the people who are below poverty line and their general health level is far below the basic standard. There is an effort to improve that level and this is what we can see elsewhere in the world including African countries, including Nigeria. It also depends upon the level of dev elopement of the country. Talking about Nigeria, it is true that there is a large population that is in need of health care and there is also sufficient reasons that the government is trying its best to reach out to such people providing necessary treatment etc. In context of this situation when our medical mission came to provide the polio corrective surgery, all free of cost, it was truly big boon to the families having such deprived children and simultaneously our people had the opportunity to be able to serve the humanity.
Incidentally, I may also mention that Rotary has presented 18 incubators from India to Nigeria. Rotary district in India around Pune has done this humanitarian project and a symbolic incubator was presented during our work in Abuja.
Do you find it difficult to convince doctors and volunteers from India to undertake medical missions to African countries without any monetary compensation? Do you come across stereo typing or myths?
All the doctors and volunteers from India were Rotarians who were part
Thus, one could see the empathy that the Hon’ble Health Minister of Nigeria had for the success that India has achieved and wanted to take benefit of that through a learning process.
I must add here that while we were in Abuja, we received invaluable advice from our own High Commissioner from India Mr. M. Sachdev who gave us the insight of the country, its people, attitude and temperament, the positives and the challenges. His advice was a very important strengthening process for us in our connection with the Health Minister and understanding the
Ayuchi. This was the third mission where multi specialties medical missions, each one having 4 or 5 specialty surgeons and doctors such as ophthalmologists, ENT surgeons, plastic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, gynecologists etc. This mission was more focused on one specialty. The earlier missions were purely for bringing treatment to the needy humanity. This project to Nigeria was somewhat different. It had twin objectives. The optical aim was to provide the better quality of life to the operatable Polio stricken children. The underline objective also was to bring home the message that Rotary was
Group of Indian doctors and volunteers in Abuja
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of the team as volunteers without any monetary compensation. They were totally motivated by Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self”. Each one of them, very experienced in their respective field, and coming from four corners of the country, sacrificed their own time and professional commitment back home in order to be part of this mission. In fact, there were more Rotarians who were wanting to join but because of our own limitations we could not accommodate all. They were truly inspired by the whole objective of the mission and this is what made the objective reachable and the dream a reality. Sincerely, these doctors were working as instruments of goodness reaching out to the children of humanity, regardless of color, culture or country and providing the healing touch to the people in need. No word of admiration of praise for these doctors would be enough. And they did it all for the love of the humanity, disregarding the inconvenience of travel or logistics and they truly translated the nobility of profession into action.
The Rotary Foundation has apparently also undertaken 12 other medical missions out of which 11 are to African countries? How do you plan and fund such trips and what is your source about news concerning various disease and availability of Indian doctors and volunteers?
I have already explained above how the medical missions are funded. It is not The Rotary Foundation that undertakes these projects. The individual districts, clubs or group of Rotary entities can plan a project and then they seek support of The Rotary Foundation together with help from Rotary clubs from other countries. Almost since 1998 when I and my wife conceived of the idea of serving beyond borders, we thought that India has always been on the receiving end and this missions provided opportunity for us to can give and
spirits to expand this kind of humanitarianism to give with a sense of dignity to the receiver and also in the process building the bridges of friendship between the people of India and the country visited and served.
It is very interesting when you are asking the funds and I was asked when I reached Abuja by the media people how much this project would cost in terms of dollars. My answer to them was to calculate the value of the time given by each surgeon or medical doctor who is part of the team, each
share. This is how we started our first medical mission to Uganda and thereafter it became a passion for us, renewing our energies and
of the volunteers who otherwise are business people or other professionals who were extending their services voluntarily, cost of
Doctors in the operation theatre
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all the local Rotarians who were leaving their work and totally engaging them in this project. Add all that together and then add the cost of the support system that has been provided by the government. Cost of equipment, consumables and medicines probably will be significant but when you add all that together you will find that the comparison to the smiles that you bring on the faces of the parents of the treated children would pail into insignificant.
Did you receive media coverage in the Nigerian media? How is the Nigerian Government campaign to eradicate polio? What can India do in this regard?
Yes we received reasonably good media coverage both in the print and electronic Nigerian newspapers and television. There were some international agencies also that were doing some coverage. We were not looking for the photo opportunity but our idea was to do some solid work which will become a message itself. In our such endeavor we felt we were reasonably successful. Our Rotary media also is fairly strong and that spreads the
news all over the world. Our Indian High Commission in Abuja played a very important role in highlighting the activities of our medical mission.
I would like to express my profound admiration of our High Commission headed by High Commissioner Mr. Mahesh Sachdev who not only hosted a reception for our team but was a friend, philosopher and guide for us and giving us the feeling of being at home far from home. His in-depth knowledge also opened before us the possible opportunities how we can follow up some of the activities that we have now started. Some of these issues will be discussed by us with Govt. of India and may be our own Indian Government and some with the support of Rotary International community we will be able to pursue it further such as training of the local orthopedic surgeons in polio corrective surgeries, manufacture of prosthetics, providing treatment to such children who need 2 or 3 surgeries over a period of time and having them sent by Govt. of Nigeria to India and Rotary taking care of them. These are all possibilities which we have got
to take up soon because we have limited time and we have to beat Polio as early as possible.
In the closing I would also like to refer to the leadership of Rotary in Nigeria starting Past Rotary International President Jonathan Majiyagbe who provided the fatherly guidance and was the mentor for encouraging the local Rotarians to take up the challenge in work. People like Felix Obadan, Saliu Ahmad, Kaseem Mustapha and many others who formed the team. Indeed it was the spirit of Service Above Self that motivated the India-Nigeria team working together for the better of humanity.
What did the doctors and volunteers from the recent medical mission say after the completion of the Nigerian visit?
What you has asked about the impressions the doctors and volunteers had from the recent medical mission. Why don’t I give the words of two of our doctors as to what they had to say. Dr. Deepak Purohit was the Project Chairman and has been a Orthopedic Surgeon and it is what he has felt about the mission.
"Rotary gave us this extraordinary opportunity to use our professional expertise in the service of these helpless children. It is said that best deed is the one when the receiver will never know who was the giver and we did our noblest deed through this project."
The other person Dr. Rajiv Pradhan, a very experienced medical person who has been with me for most of the medical missions outside and within India and who was the medical coordinator for the project said:
"Serving these people was a life changing experience. I realized the value of humility, compassion to fellow human beings and re enforced the notion that World is one family."
Indian doctor examines a patient in Kubwa to identify those children who were fit for surgery
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Eight children from Nigeria suffering from congenital h e a r t d i s e a s e w e r e
operated successfully through open heart surgery by peadiatric cardiac specialists at Innova Hospitals at Hyderabad in India, in early December 2012. Team Innova comprising of Dr. K. S. Murthy, Prof. I. M. Rao, Dr. K. V. Ramana, Dr. Gnanasekhar, Dr. Rama Krishna, Dr. Pankaj Kumar and Dr. Yogesh operated on the Nigerian kids.
These surgeries were sponsored by MTN-Nigeria under a CSR initiative. The children hail from deprived families, one of them being an orphan. These children aged between 1 – 10 years were suffering from complex birth defects in the heart. Three of them were sick on arrival and were admitted in the ICU. One of the 3 kids was refused treatment at United States, United Kingdom
and Germany, considering the complexity of the surgery.
The Nigeria Cardiac Society had invited Dr. K. S. Murthy, Chief Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon and Chairman, Innova Hospitals, as the chief guest at its 41st annual conference, recently. The keynote Address he delivered on the occasion, “Establishing and Managing Pediatric Cardiac Centre” was well received and much appreciated by the cardiac fraternity in Nigeria with a standing ovation. The thrust of his address was on various factors and problems that developing countries face in establishing such high end sophisticated centre. Dr. Murthy offered solutions for problems in running such centres and managing them effectively with limited resources, from the repertoire of vast knowledge and experience he has in managing such centres.
Eight Nigerian Children with Heart Disease Operated Successfully in India
Dr. Murthy has been requested to help Nigeria in establishing a Pediatric Cardiac Care facility at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Impressed by Dr. Murthy’s expertise and the excellence Innova has shown in peadiatric cardiac care, the Hospital has been chosen as a training centre to train Nigerian cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anesthetists, nurses and para medical staff. Innova has already trained about 25 staff from University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. Currently two cardiac surgeons are undergoing training and some more are expected.
Innova Children's Heart Hospital is first of its kind hospital in South Asia to provide dedicated and focused care for children suffering from heart diseases. In a short span of five years, Innova has produced results of par excellence by performing
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highest number of peadiatric cardiac surgeries with outcomes on par with the best in the world. Several poor children from India
PATIENT DETAILS
S. No NAME Age /
Sex Diagnosis Description of Diagnosis Treatment
1 Chisom Ashamole Stephen
3 yrs. / M VSD, PS Hole in the heart and narrowed Pulmonary
Valve
Closure of hole with a patch and enlargement of the valve
2 odunze Chukwuemeka
2 yrs. / M ASD Hole in the heart Closed with Device without
surgery - No scar
3 Ms. Ajayi Funto 9 yrs. / F
Peri-membranous VSD, Trival AR Hole in the heart with leaking valve VSD Closure and Aortic
Valve Repair
4 Ibrahim Sheu28
yrs. / M
S/p Hip Replacement with dislocation and shortening of limb
He was disabled, unable to walk, using crouches
1. Removal of prosthetis 2. Lengthening of muscles by traction and 3. Re-do hip replacement by prosthetis.
5 Ramalan Abubakar Sadiq
2 yrs. / M VSD Hole in the heart closed with a patch
6 Ariyo Adewunmi 7 yrs. / M
Complex CHD, Dextrocardia, DORV, VSD, severe PS with Cyanotic Spells
Complex birth defect in the right sided heart with lack of Pulmonary blood supply - severe bluish discoloration, bed-ridden and oxygen dependent (was very sick and admitted in the ICU)
BD Glenn operation to improve the Pulmonary blood flow
7Temitope Babatunde Adedoyin
5 yrs. / M
Tetralogy of Fallot with severe Cyanosis and spells
Blue baby syndrome with severe bluish discoloration with repeated spells. Admitted in the ICU. He was refused taking up for surgery in USA, UK and Germany. He is an orphan
Total Correction
8 Godwin Aboh 1 yr. / M
VSD and PDA, severe PAH with Colostomy
Hole in the heart and abnormal connection between the Pulmonary Artery and Aorta with high Lung pressure, congestive heart failure and emaciated. He also has im-perforates anus with colostomy. He was rapidly breathing and admitted in the ICU
VSD closure and PDA Ligation
and abroad benefited from the expertise of the team at Innova. The hospital has also taken initiative to spread the knowledge
and expertise by training medical professionals in countries where facilities are unavailable, to develop sustainable pediatric cardiac centres, there.
Indian Healthcare
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Economy
NASSCOM’s Delegation to Nigeria
India’s premier business body the National Association of Software and Services
Companies (NASSCOM ) in a global trade development Initiative to explore new geographies for its members – organized its 3rd delegation to Africa (Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya). The emphasis of the NASSCOM delegation was on creating awareness among the local stakeholders – local governments, local companies about India, identifying potential companies for partnership and building a long term engagement programme.
The delegation to Africa is in line with the objective which was outlined by the NASSCOM McKinsey study – Perspective 2020 a couple of years ago. Currently, the Indian IT industry gets close to 80% of its revenue from the traditional markets of US and UK. These markets are on incremental growth but going forward a large chunk of business would be driven by opportunities outside the current core markets, verticals and customer segments.
Over the past couple of years, Africa has been one of the fastest growing markets worldwide in ICT adoption and communication technology and has the potential of becoming one of the most important markets for the Indian IT industry. The liberalization of Africa continues and most countries have established regulatory bodies to ensure a fair, competitive and enabling environment. Governments and businesses that were apprehensive till some time back have realized the potential of ICT and are willing to invest in this sector. Africa’s IT market is headed for growth in 2011-12, and market levels are expected to reach $26.53 billion in 2014, setting in motion a number of key trends that will reshape the IT landscape in Africa.
The reforms path adopted by many countries in Africa and addition of significant broadband capacity with installation of undersea cables is unlocking huge demand of ICT services in multiple domains both at the macro economic level as well as policy levels.
Nigeria is the second biggest economy in Africa and is the largest in terms of its population and opportunity.
Key t ak eaways f r om th e NASSCOM delegation visit in September 2012
1. The African countries l ike India want to move from an Agriculture based economy to a Knowledge based economy. Most Governments in Africa committed to use ICT in most of its activities in order to facilitate the rapid socio-economic development
2. The Afr ican countr ies are well supported by the local Governments and ICT is being looked at as a priority sector.
3. The African countries are also being funded by the World Bank and the African Development bank to initiate the adoption of ICT in various govt. departments and initiatives
4. Brand India: The Indian IT companies are well recognized and appreciated and there is an eagerness to work with IT companies. High respect for Indian companies and professionals
The visiting delegation led by Mr. Som Mittal, President NASSCOM called on H.E. Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Vice President of Nigeria
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5. The associations itself in all the 3 countries look at NASSCOM as a mentor to help them organise their local IT industry and do a similar branding as NASSCOM has done for the Indian IT industry
6. Government incentive and Support: Governments offering heavy incentives and tax benefits for investments in ICT including IT / BPO services. Favorable policies & red carpet welcome for ICT companies can be expected in most countries
7. As last year there were companies in the delegation which did not have Africa as their focus geography, but were part of the NASSCOM delegation because they were just vaguely aware about the opportunities. But seeing the opportunities – they companies certainly plan to visit Africa again with a strategic plan.
8. Afr ica cannot be taken as a heterogeneous market/ region. It has over 50 countries with different, individual characteristics. Opportunities exist in the IT, BPO as well as skills development space.
9. The World Bank is helping many countries in Africa and mobilizing funds to come at par with other nations. ICT is the focus sector as it cuts across all businesses and can add value in all sectors.
Lagos, Nigeria
The IT Association of Nigeria (ITAN), organised a Summit/networking event for the NASSCOM delegation which was
well attended by local Nigerian IT companies. In her opening remarks, ITAN President Mrs. Florence Seriki stressed the need for co-operation. She expressed the hope that ITAN-NASSCOM partnership in the area of IT and ITES will position Nigeria as the foremost Outsourcing destination in Africa in the more than US$600 billion market of which only about 25 per cent have been served. Some of the points that she raised with the delegation were:-
1. How can Nigerian Government participate to accelerate the adoption and development of IT industry in Nigeria;
2. How can NASSCOM and ITAN work together;
3. H o w c a n N i g e r i a n s entrepreneurs develop software industry be developed in their country.
Abuja, Nigeria
The visiting delegation led by Mr. Som Mittal, President NASSCOM called on H.E. Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Vice President of Nigeria. In a brief but impressive meeting with NASSCOM delegation, Hon’ble Vice President indicated that Nigerian government accorded high priority to creation of policy and regulatory framework
conducive to fostering business environment in IT sector. They also discussed focus on Capacity and Skill building.
In Abuja, NASSCOM delegation met Prof. Cleopas Angaye, President, Nigerian IT Development Agency (NITDA) and discussed possibility of collaboration. They stressed that the interaction between Indian and Nigerian IT industries needed to be defined, definite and constant.
The Indian High Commission in Abuja organised an excellent meeting with stakeholders in Trade & Industry namely NIPC, ABUCCIMA, Kano & Kaduna Chambers of Commerce, ECOWAS etc at High Commission of India, Abuja's Chancery premises which was followed by a Dinner.
There was a lot of learning from the delegation visit to Nigeria
1. It was a pleasant surprise to notice that the English is almost spoken as the first language
2. While talking to the Indian IT companies operating in Nigeria, it was also realized that Indian companies need to have a local partner in Nigeria to front end their business.
3. You have to invest time and effort to identify a good partner. The process might be time consuming and tedious but it is certainly rewarding.
NASSCOM delegation met Prof. Cleopas Angaye, President, Nigerian IT Development Agency (NITDA)
A meeting with stakeholders in Trade & Industry namely NIPC, ABUCCIMA, Kano & Kaduna Chambers of Commerce,
ECOWAS etc at High Commission of India, Abuja
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The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation or ITEC programme was
launched in 1964 as an earnest attempt by India to share the fruits of its socio-economic development and technological achievement with other developing countries on bilateral basis. Over past 48 years, it has become one of the world’s largest bilateral development capacity sharing programmes. ITEC and its corollary, Special Commonwealth African Assistance Programme, or SCAAAP, today cover 158 countries and various regional and multilateral organisations and groups. It offers fully India-funded modules in different ways: Training in India through over 5,000 slots in 200 courses by 42
ITEC Day in NigeriaSource: High Commission of India
Year-Wise Utilisation
Ceremonial cutting of cake on ITEC Day by H.E. Prof. Ewa, Nigerian Minister of Science and Technology and H.E. M. Laleye,
Ambassador of Benin in Nigeria
Capacity Building
Extracts from High Commissioner’s Speech on his ITEC Day Reception held on December 17, 2012 in Abuja
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Addresses by Nigerian Minister of Science & Technology and Indian High Commissioner
Indian High Commissioner with two Nigerian ITEC Fellows
institutions; Projects and project related activities; Deputation of Indian Experts; Study Tours; Donation of Equipment; and Disaster Relief Aid.
Of these components, this High Commission’s country-partners, namely Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Republic of Cameroon and Republic of Chad have made extensive use of professional training courses in India ranging from Auditing to Solar Energy. It is gratifying to note that despite some handicaps, this year has witnessed record performances by each of them. Although the current Indian official year (which began on April 1 2012) still has over 3 months to run, in past eight and half months we have already exceeded the best annual figures so far by each of them. Thus, 188 Nigerians have availed of ITEC fellowships so far in 2012-13, a number higher than 177 in full year 2011-12. In acknowledgement of this gain, the number allocated to Nigeria for 2012-13 has been raised further to 210. Similarly, Benin Republic has already sent 12, Cameroon 25 and Chad 11 - each of these figures being a new annual national record. In fact, in past six years the number of ITEC beneficiaries from each of these countries has multiplied by three or more times.
This spectacular growth underlines few gains: growing acceptance
of ITEC, not the least by the candidates themselves; better realisation by our esteemed country-partners of relevance o f I n d i a n d e v e l o p m e n t a l experience who have sought to leverage it through ITEC training. Exceptions exempted, most of the participants found their ITEC experience useful and enjoyable. ITEC has also deepened linkages among professionals, engendering first-hand familiarity, without stereotypes.
Such across-the-board record breaking ITEC performance would have been impossible without extensive cooperation from our four country-partners. I thankfully acknowledge the support received from their respective nodal agencies, viz. Nigeria’s Ministries of National Planning and Foreign Affairs, Embassies of Benin and Chad and High Commission of
Cameroon. On our own side, I would like to commend the role of Mr N. Ram Prasad, First Secretary, ably supported by Ms Remi Kolawole and Ms Precious Opara. Dedication of this small team has enabled processing of over 2,500 ITEC applications in past 9 months, coordination with candidates and Indian institutions and provision with logistical support as well as follow up.
Record numbers apart, the credit for qualitative success of the programme should also go to each one of 236 ITEC fellows who have been to India since April 1 this year. I thank them all for contributing to success of this year’s Programme. I am sure their ITEC experiences would further consolidate the excellent bilateral ties that India enjoys with Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon and Chad.
Capacity Building
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Global economy is going through a tough phase. How does it affect a developing economy like Nigeria in Sub-Sahara Africa? How do you see your operations shaping up amidst such challenging environment in Nigeria?
The Nigerian economy has grown by 6-7% annually during past couple of years and with this rate, it is poised to soon become the biggest in Africa, surpassing South Africa. Nigeria seems to be weathering international turbulence very well, especially the European crisis, deceleration of China.
Nigeria is becoming more and more insulated from external factors due to its resilient oil and gas sector and developing domestic market. Nigeria has tremendous natural resources, competent workforce, and resilient local market, which are fantastic for continued industrialization.
In Nigeria, our efforts during the past six years have been to partner in growth of local industry and maintain strong ties with the local community, Government bodies, and our customers.
Having acquired the moribund Eleme Petrochemicals Company in 2006 through the privatization programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Under Indorama management, sales of the company have grown by over 500%. We have reinvigorated the facilities and expanded existing plants.
T o d a y , I n d o r a m a E l e m e Petrochemicals Company (IEPL)
produces more than 35 various grades of polyethylene and polypropylene for both domestic and export markets. Today, Nigeria is self-reliant in the plastic sector and does not have to depend on imports anymore. Our products are world-class and they have put Nigeria on the global polymer map.
On 24th July 2012, Hon’ Governor of River State H.E Mr Chibuike Amaechi commissioned our new PET plant that has capacity for 86,000 MT per annum. With this new addition, combined capacity of our complex has gone up to 500,000 metric tons per annum. Our new fertilizer and methanol projects are also on course.
The Nige r ian government through various pronouncements is working ass iduously to encou rage p r i va t e s ec to r investments, especially foreign direct investments. However, government may need to address a few issues such as multiple taxation, transport infrastructure, power generation & supplies, and
most importantly a conducive investment environment.
There is need for Nigeria to adopt sector-specific policy reforms and incentives in key sectors of the economy such as petrochemicals, agriculture and mining as the nation’s economic growth engine.
To what would you ascribe the turnaround of Eleme Petrochemicals, from an unproductive unit to big success story of Nigeria?
We have always stated that our workforce is our greatest asset. It is their commitment and dedication that makes our vision and operating philosophy come true.
We work with the best available technologies and practices to ensure that we provide quality and sustainable solutions to our customers. The landmark turnaround of IEPL is a shining example of collective effort, industry innovation, best global practices, and delivering the results to the satisfaction of stakeholders and industry.
Recently, IEPL was awarded triple ISO certification in quality (ISO 9001), environment (ISO 14001) and occupational health and safety (OHSAS 18001). The company also recently bagged a Five-Star rating by the British Safety Council (BSC), a global authority on HSE standards.
These are proud milestones for IEPL and a first for any manufacturing company in Nigeria..
“Indorama Working on 3 New Projects in Nigeria” - Amit Lohia, Group MD
Mr. Amit Lohia, Group MD Indorama Corporation
Business Interview
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Donation of exercise book to primary school pupils by officials of Indorama, Nigeria
Business Interview
Is your plan to invest US $ 2.1 billion by 2016 to make Nigeria a global hub of the petrochemical industry on track? Like EPCL, will the Federal Government, local communities and workers be part of this growth drive?
Sure, as I stated earlier, our new investment plan of over 2 billion US Dollars in on course. We have completed and commissioned the PET plant, which is the first in Sub-Saharan Africa and the second plant of its kind in Africa.
The PET plant would supply all the PET needs of the domestic market and still have surplus to export to the neighboring West African market. This would save Nigeria over 140 million US Dollars in import substitution because currently 100% of the country’s supplies are imported.
Work on our fertilizer project is progressing very well and the plant is expected to come on stream in 2015. That project too is going to have a significant impact on the Nigerian economy because it is expected to deliver about 1.4 million metric tons of urea to feed the nation’s agricultural sector and enhance food security.
By 2015, Indorama Nigeria would not only be the largest petrochemicals hub in Africa, but also one of the largest manufacturing hubs in the continent.
Yes, the government, the local communities and the employees are part of the growth drive and vision. Our public private partnership (PPP) model enables everyone to share in the wealth creation. This PPP model has been quite beneficial to both the company and all the internal and external stakeholders.
Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investments Dr. Olusegun Aganga visits the IEPL plant
IEPL enjoys confidence of its 1000+ strong workforce, all host communities, state and federal governments and customers.
Indorama is a leading company in the field of polyester, petrochemicals, spun yarn, etc. presently heading eight units in different countries of the world. What are your plans in future and how many companies are under construction and in which country?
Indorama Corporation is a leading manufacturer of petrochemicals and associated downstream products, which are shipped to over 100 countries across the globe. We have more than 20,000 employees from 26 nationalities and manufacturing operations spanning Asia, Africa, Europe and North America at 40 manufacturing sites in 20 countries.
We are working on three new projects in Nigeria at the moment – 1.4 million ton Fertlizer plant, 1.2 million ton Methanol plant, and 300,000 ton Polyolefin expansion project. We are also actively exploring new opportunities in Central Asia, Middle East, and US.
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My Journey Through Indian Language School, Lagos......
By Dr. (Mrs.) Suman Kanwar Principal, Indian Language School, Lagos
Today, as I take a step away and pause to turn around, my sweeping glance tries
to take in all… the imposing red brick building holding all that is dear to me….the sounds of laughter of students at play or the murmur of an ongoing class, the scurrying steps of teachers running between classes or the
that I would truly discover an India I never knew before, at the same time fall in love with the host country-Nigeria.
Teaching being my passion, I found myself working in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Lagos, in my first few months of setting foot in Nigeria.
and teaching, for the Principal’s office and administration. I WAS NAIVE.
Today, 23 years later, I am older and wiser. I know that to be the Principal of ILS, beside academics, one must know building construction, be proficient at filing affidavits in
Memoirs
Dr. Suman Kanwar has been Principal of Nigeria’s only Indian school for 22 years. Early 2013, she is set to leave the country after 26 years
in Lagos. Here she reminisces about her times with this institution that she nurtured over past quarter of a century.
tapping sounds floating forth from a non-teaching staff at work. Familiar sounds…but heavily laden with the memories of so many years.
32 years back, setting foot on the soils of Nigeria, excited but apprehensive of the unknown, I never dreamt that it was here, in this vibrant West African land,
In 1986, I came to the fledgling Indian Language School where while teaching and helping to set up its labs I stayed on as Vice Principal.
The turning point of my career was in 1990, when I was appointed the Principal. I assumed that becoming the Principal would be merely exchanging the classroom
court, keep an eye on the health of the banking industry and the oil sector. One must be able to deal with various local agencies such as LASMA, LAWMA. KAI, RAPID RESPONSE, Local Council, Internal Revenue Board, Accelerated Revenue Board, Nigerian Immigration Service, Customs Department, Nigerian
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Port Authority, different avatars of 419 exponents, unreceptive neighbours and Ilupeju Vegetable Vendors Union.
Coming f rom a fami ly o f academicians, I was not a novice to the way educational institutions are run. However, running an Indian school in a foreign land, has its own distinctive challenges. To begin with, we sometimes faced the problem of non-availability of trained and qualified teachers, especially after the Senior Secondary divisions were established. We managed. As all text books came from India, they did not always reach Lagos in time at the beginning of an academic year. We managed. I remember in one particular year, some science and computer science textbooks arrived only at the start of the second term. We still managed to get fairly good results. However, the 90%
forced us to improvise. Though the school remained shut for days on end; we had to struggle to keep up with the academics. We often had to hold classes over Saturdays and Sundays as weekends were more peaceful. Worksheets had to be sent to homes of the students like handbills. Many a time, sudden local crisis forced us to close school half way through the day and disperse students to nearby Indian houses, till evening, when it would be safe for them to drive home. To steer the school during such times of turbulence was a daunting, yet enlightening and strengthening experience for me.
At the administration front too things were not rosy. In those pre-internet days, communication was at a premium. Sometimes the circulars from Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – to which the school was affiliated -
of divisions per class. Eventually it became clear, that we had to build our own school building on our own property. We began with no funds, just a vision and the hope for a future, for our growing school. Fortunately, there was plenty of support - both moral and financial, from the Indian community and Indian owned companies. After plenty of tension and sleepless nights, wondering whether the construction would ever take place, I stood by and watched as brick by brick and floor after floor fell in place for into the four storied school building, which today houses our senior classes and administrative departments.
A s I m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r , academically we have moved forward tremendously and produce excellent results at both the Secondary and Senior Secondary school levels. This is
success rate which was elusive till 1991, was later achieved and the impossible was made possible. Our public exam aggregates rose into the 90s and we have never looked back since then.
There have been various trials and tribulations; in the mid 90s, frequent challenges concerning law and order and political instability
about the change in syllabi would reach us after the examinations were over! There were times when question papers had to be faxed by the CBSE to the High Commission.
With each passing year, the school continued to grow and expand. The student strength increased and with it, the number
no mean a feat, given the fact that we do not refuse admission to any Indian student, and do not take in only the crème de la crème. Among our students we have those with special needs and physically challenged students. They individually receive special attention and help, while benefiting from studying in a
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classroom environment. We admit students who come from various vernacular/education backgrounds in our school. Within the school, we try to give them coaching or remedial classes so that they are able to catch up on what they have missed and become familiar with the system. Teachers are told to invite feedback, so as to make their teaching more effective.
The situation in Lagos is such that some teachers and students have to leave in the middle of a term. In such cases, the school not only has to replace the teacher, but also has to give in-house training to new teachers. Senior teachers, and sometimes I myself, have sat in their classes, observed and given guidance.
Regular extra-classes are held in school by our teachers for students of Board classes so that they do not need to go for outside tuitions. Just like the students, the teachers of ILS too, come from all parts of India. I have found this variety to be an important means of contributing to national
integration and have tried to encash this multi-ethnicity. I have been able to build a great rapport with my teaching staff. I hold weekly subject meetings with each one of them in order to interact with and guide them. The back office with my able administrative staff has always been one of the pillars of the school functioning.
The introduction of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation system, by the CBSE has helped to strengthen our holistic approach to education. This system aims at a continuous assessment of a student throughout the year in all fields and not just academics, thus resulting in an all-round development of a child. Here children are encouraged to draw out their special skills in various areas like sports, music, art, fine arts among others.
Nigerian studies have been included in the student activities and our students have learnt to appreciate and imbibe many aspects of Nigeria's rich culture. Students have the opportunity to interact with students of Nigerian
and other international schools, many of them can sing Yoruba songs and perform local ethnic dances.
Being an academician, I have been brought up to believe that I should contribute in imparting education to those less privileged. Hence with the help of able donors and charitable bodies, I have taken the lead to help refurbish many a Nigerian school and give study materials to many of them. We have even helped external students in Yola, Warri, Port Harcourt and Ajaokuta and study material, and guidance in teaching to these schools was provided by us. ILS has also assisted India International School in Cotonou when the school was being established. We have an ongoing adult literacy class for non-English speaking mothers in school, to improve their communication ski l ls and understand and help their respective children particularly in studies. All this has always been close to my heart.
As a Principal, I made it a point to be aware and involved in every aspect of school life and encouraged staff and students alike to express their views and give their suggestions. I have always maintained an open-door policy, so that teachers, students and non-teaching staff have the freedom to see me directly about any issue and this approach has helped me to administer in a hands-on manner. My experience has taught me that to give ear to the voice of the young is essential if an institution is to be dynamic, effective and relevant to the times. I have learnt a lot from my students and my interaction with them has helped me to broaden my outlook and bridge the generation gap. I encouraged Student Governance and the school has an elected Students Council. Over the years we have also formed various appointed Committees who play
Indian High Commissioner hosted a farewell dinner for Dr. (Mrs) Suman Kanwar outgoing Principal Indian Language School Principal and her
husband Mr. R. Kanwar. Also present were H.E. Dr. E. Egbogah, former Sr Special Advisor to President on Petroleum Matters, Mrs. Egbogah and Prof. Enase Okonedo, Dean Lagos Business School. (Lagos; 9.11.2012)
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a role in maintaining discipline, encouraging sport, environmental awareness and knowledge of global and health issues. The students also have committees to develop reading and writing skills.
It is a matter of pride that despite constraints of space that we face, our students play a wider variety of sports than most other city schools. ILS students walk away with many prizes in Inter –School Competitions ranging from music to taekwondo. The ILS policy of 100% participation for Sports Day and Annual Day Functions has done a lot to discover and hone the talents of all our students and has equipped them by increasing their confidence and skill. At these events, the concept of unique team work and professional co-ordination among the staff, has become a signature highlight. To ensure the success of such events I do all that is necessary to tap and combine the strengths of all those concerned, to bring about a united and focused effort, in order to present an excellent performance.
As I have said earlier, the task has not been easy and is one in which many hands have pulled together. A leader is nothing without a team. Just as no man is an island; no school Principal can grapple alone to make it a success. Although I have enjoyed having 120 expatriates and 60 non-teaching staff working under me, it has always been like one big family.
Nothing would have worked all these years if it had not been for the unstinting support and loyalty of the non-teaching staff of the school, some of whom are as old as the school itself and are a rung in the ladder of success of the school. The special bond and warmth that I have shared with them will always remain an important part of my life.
The Office of the High Commission, the various High Commissioners along the years and the members of the Board of Trustees have been an invaluable source of strength and the school and I are deeply indebted to them. Their timely and mature advice and their dedicated involvement in the development of the school have played a crucial part in making the school what it is today. The support from various Indian institutions and professional bodies ranging from the ICA, IPF, INFAS, IWA and VWF is highly appreciated.
Thus, Indian Language School, Lagos is successfully treading the path which it set out to do --shaping young Indians with global wings. Today, thanks to the support I have received and the learning experiences I have had - I have not only survived - I feel rewarded - when I see what ILS has become.
With a student strength of 2500, curricular and extra-curricular systems well in place, academic achievements to be proud of and successful alumni all over the world, I feel a deep sense of
An Indian Language School student explaining an computer simulation project at Science Exhibition. ILS Principal Dr Kanwar is also seen in
picture (Lagos; 30.3.2012)
Our alumni has really done us proud. Today our alumni are to be found all over the world, successfully pursuing a variety of careers and excelling in numerous fields. It swells my heart when I receive mails and calls from the alumni & when they tell me about their achievements. They are in enviable positions from being CEOs of companies to IT specialists to doctors, engineers and even being fashion models, singing icons & priests.
satisfaction at having been able to contribute towards the growth of Indian Language School, Lagos.
........I now turn around and step away from this wonderful journey, as the familiar sounds of the children fade away.... with a lump in my throat as I feel my eyes go moist… I feel a deep sense of pride that I - I have captained this wonderful institution -I feel privileged to have played a major role in the creation and evolution of ILS, my proud Alma Mater.
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Tata’s Tryst with Nigeria Mr. Sudeep Ray, Regional Director (West Africa), Tata Africa Services
(Nigeria) on what all India can offer to Nigeria in development of its economy and infrastructure
After some years of planning and strategy formation, the Tata Africa group finally took the plunge and opened up its fully owned subsidiary in Nigeria in October 2007. Formally called ‘TATA Africa Services (Nigeria) Limited’, the company made significant investments into Nigeria during 2008 and purchased an operating infrastructure in Lagos, the commercial hub of the country from where the TATA operations are now directed.
Since then the company has come a long way and now prides itself as one of Nigeria’s premier automobile and automobile services companies. Tata Nigeria today is able to provide a vehicle for every need. Operating out of Lagos, the company has set up an extensive network infrastructure across Nigeria covering the major industrial hubs of Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt. The vehicles division of Tata Nigeria strives to become the ‘Wheels of the Nation’ in the near future and keep providing ‘value for money’ products and thereby engage in the socio-economic development of the country.
Tata vehicles are apt for Nigerian conditions as they are robustly built and developed with strong suspension and have the capacity to bear adverse road conditions and overloading. Vehicle assembly projects will also be looked
at in Nigeria in the near future with the assistance of Federal/State governments to assemble vehicles for goods and passenger movement with increased indigenization content which would give boost to local employment, ancillary industries development, capacity building and technology transfer.
However TATA means more than just transportation. Tata companies today operate worldwide in six other business sectors as well - communications and information technology, materials, services, energy, consumer products and chemicals. The total revenue of Tata companies, taken together, globally was US $83.3 billion in 2010-11 and the group employs around 350,000 people worldwide. The Tata name has been respected for 140 years for its adherence to strong values and business ethics.
Nigeria, Tata Africa’s latest investment destination, is today on the threshold of a giant leap towards sustained growth and the country must take advantage of the Indian experience in development of its economy and infrastructure, to become an emerging market and a global player in its own right. Indo-Nigerian business cooperation has immense potential in several sectors and as such Tata Nigeria has focused its growth strategy towards the following additional sectors:
Tata Nigeria today is able to provide a
vehicle for every need
Ph
oto:
Tat
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fric
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Power Projects
India has a rich experience in developing her own Integrated power projects in thermal, hydro and mini hydro sectors and this is an area where Indian groups involved in the power sector like Tatas would be keen to participate and transfer technology right from the consultancy and feasibility stage to the final execution of projects. These projects would encompass power generation and transmission, building of substations in the country etc. Such projects, apart from mitigating the power shortfall in the country would also help in
providing employment to the people and promote other ancillary businesses and industries.
E-governance
Being world leaders in the field of software development and BPOs, Indian companies such as Tata Consultancy Services would be able to assist Nigeria in the field of e-commerce and e-governance by providing solutions to the Federal and State governments as has been implemented in several states in India. E-governance provides a high tech platform to various government ministries and departments and helps in the seamless flow of information within and between ministries of the government. This facilitates quick and easy decision making and promotes efficiency in the bureaucracy.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications projects in Nigeria are of considerable interest to the Tata group and this includes establishment of fixed line CDMA telephony, mobile communications and establishment of bandwidth network. Considering the large population of the country most of who are left out of the telecom revolution, there is a huge opportunity for Nigeria to gain from such technology from India, which would also come at a reasonable cost.
Hospitality and Tourism
There is a huge potential for tourism in Nigeria and Indian hospitality industry is well developed to assist Nigeria in the growth of its own hospitality industry. Tata Nigeria with the assistance of its group companies such as Taj Hotels can effectively participate in hotel projects in Nigeria whether as consultants, joint venture partners or undertake management contracts to run hotels as per international standards
Nigeria and India both face common challenges today and Indian enterprise and industry can contribute significantly towards giving the technological edge and know-how that Nigeria requires. It is with this aim that the Tata group has set up shop in Nigeria in a big way and looks forward to contributing more and more in various sectors of the Nigerian economy in order to take the partnership between Nigeria and India forward and build it from strength to strength.
For more information, contact Mr. Ray at: +234 703 930 3755/ +234 802 200 [email protected]
Tata Consultancy Services would be able to assist Nigeria in the field of
e-commerce and e-governance
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How Bollywood Fought for the Nigerian Woman
By Deepanjana Pal
In the ’50s, when Nigeria was still a British colony, a few Lebanese film exhibitors
decided to try something new. Instead of expensive American movies, they brought in Bollywood films. It was a stupendous success particularly in the Nigerian city of Kano, home to the Hausa people. Even in 1997, Mother India played to packed houses there. Most remarkably, there emerged in the ’80s a genre known as “love literature” or soyayya literature that was inspired by Bollywood. Over 20 years later, soyayya is as popular as ever and has become an important tool
in Hausa women’s campaign to modernise their community.
The Hausa adopted Islam in the 11th century and remain strictly conservative. It may seem strange that they identify with the melodrama of Bollywood, which is predominantly Hindu. But pared to just imagery, expressions and music, commercial Hindi cinema struck a chord. Unlike American films, Hindi blockbusters – with the demure heroines, the emphasis upon family, the modest, eyelash-fluttering depictions of love – felt familiar. Hausa audiences latched on to the basic theme: tradition versus modernity. It
was a dilemma many faced in their lives.
Soyayya literature whipped Nigerian reality into Bollywood storytelling and created pamphlets of romantic pulp fiction. Mostly written and read by women, Soyayya stories are bestsellers, cheap, and usually talk about social issues. It’s estimated that more than 300 women in northern Nigeria write Soyayya literature today. This has led to grumbles and growls from conservatives. That these stories criticise practices like child marriage, polygamy and dowry has led to Soyayya being dubbed a corrupting influence.
Yet, Soyayya authors are proud of the traditions they’ve been born into, as the lives of two Soyayya pioneers, Bilkisu Salisu Ahmed Funtuwa and Balaraba Ramat Yakubu, show. Funtuwa lives in purdah; Yakubu is a devout Muslim. Their intention isn’t to rock the boat, but to help rid society of evils.
Yakubu’s “Sin Is A Puppy That Follows You Home” – possibly the first Hausa to English translation according to publishers Blaft – won’t feel revolutionary to many of us. Its heroine Rabi is a long-suffering wife and mother of nine. Her husband, Abdu, falls in love with a vamp, marries her and throws Rabi and the children out. Rabi struggles at first but settles down eventually. She starts a business that does well. When misfortune strikes Abdu, he realises what a good woman Rabi is. He apologises and asks
Hausa audiences latched onto the theme in Indian movies: tradition versus modernity
Movie Magic
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her to return home. Though Rabi initially resists, Rabi and Abdu eventually reconcile. He is humbled. She doesn’t give up her business. Everyone lives happily ever after.
As in Bollywood, there’s no such thing as moderation in “Sin Is A Puppy....” The line distinguishing its melodrama from a B-grade
blockbuster is almost invisible. But contained in all this pulp is rebellion that isn’t so subtle if you consider the society for which Yakubu writes. Polygamy is accepted practice among Hausa. So Yakubu’s insistence that a man cherish only one wife is as radical as her decision to give Rabi a career.
While some have called Yakubu a feminist, she chafes against that label. She describes herself as “half humanist and half feminist”, and she’s proud of her Hausa identity. Curiously, she’s not particularly fond of Bollywood. “I don’t like the songs and dances because it is not our culture,” she said in an interview. “Sin Is A Puppy” is rich with local Nigerian flavour and detail. At the same time, it’s informed by values like monogamy, loyalty and familial solidarity that are staples of classic Bollywood plots. But though the films can often be disturbingly regressive, they have inspired a genre that seeks to empower. If Soyayya authors are successful, it’ll be as close to a happy ending as we can imagine in real life.
Source: DNA, Mumbai, November 4, 2012
Movie Magic
Soyayya literature whipped Nigerian reality into Bollywood storytelling and created pamphlets of romantic
pulp fiction. Mostly written and read by women, Soyayya stories are bestsellers, cheap, and usually talk
about social issues
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Over i ts s ix years of operations, Whistling Woods International
(WWI) has sustained international relations with several countries across the world like Spain, Bermuda, Argentina, Australia, UK, Dubai and many more. WWI had been invited by the Government of Spain in 2009 to set up a campus in Alicante, Spain within the Spanish Film Industry and now Trend Media City Limited (TMC)- a NIgerian development company has invited WWI to set up the first world-class film & media institute in Africa- Whistling Woods International Nigeria (WWIN).
Trend Media City Limited and Whistling Woods International h a v e s i g n e d a n M O U announcing the partnership in the development of WWIN. The MOU communicates how both TMC and WWI will invest their resources, capital, and knowledge to develop the new WWIN - film & media institute for the thriving entertainment hub of Nigeria. In addition, WWI will be supervising the operations of the film institute and the studios for a minimum period of 10-years.
On the significance of the MOU, Mr. Uzo Udemba chairman/CEO of TUG, the owners of Trend TV and TMC observes, “Everyone talks about the raw talents inherent in the Nollywood industry and its impendency as a major source of film and TV entertainment content to Africa and the world, but WWI Nigeria
will become the training ground to train, harness and refine the professionals and technicians who will take the industry to its next level and unlock its enormous economic potential.”
Meghna Ghai Puri, the president of WWI said, “WWI strongly
Nigerian Development Company to set up Whistling Woods
International in Nigeria
encourages cross cultural exchange between film professionals across the globe. Over the past year or so, we have been aggressively exploring opportunities to expand globally and in the proposed Trend Filmcity by TMC in Nigeria, we found a perfect partner.”
Cinema
“Whispering Woods” institute of famous Bollywood director Mr. Subhash Ghai entered into a capacity building joint venture in
Nigeria with M/s Trend Media. Here the representatives of two partners are seen with Indian High Commissioner (Abuja; 31.8.2012)
Nigerian businessman Uzo Udemba (l) and Subhash Ghai, founder of Whistling Woods International, have partnered to create Whistling
Woods International Nigeria
On an upbeat note Director Ramesh Raparthi on the sets
Namaste Niger: First Indo-Nigerian Film to Debut in 2013!
By Y. Sunita Chowdhary
Ramesh Raparthy, a young Indian Film Director, is connecting Bollywood with Nollywood.
Cinemascope
Ramesh Raparthy grew up watching movie stars from very close quarters as his father Raghava had worked with Venkatesh as a
make up artist. So it was only natural for Ramesh to be influenced with some aspect or the other of film making. Sounding upbeat, with clarity in his talk and raring to go, the young director is waiting for his debut release Race.
In a chat with Cinema Plus he says he’s destined to be in the movie industry. “I had made up my mind from a very young age about me being a cinematographer and I worked towards it. I went to a film school in Chennai and then moved to Nigeria for five years. A few of my Nigerian films won awards. I did reality shows and helped them set up a film school with technical know-how. In the process I got attached to the country and made a lot of contacts. When I returned to India after eight months, they wanted me back and I became an instructor in their film school after which I embarked on the project.”
Ramesh Raparthy observes that Nigerians have the resources but no skilled labour. They love Bollywood cinema and watch all dubbed versions of films in Hindi. He apparently is the first Indian
ever to shoot a Nigerian film and the first Indian to bring Nigerian cinema to India. He flew the Nigerians to Vizag and shot a film Namaste Niger there, which is releasing next year.
Ramesh has been working on the concept of Race for ten years; it has finally fallen in place. The movie stars Ahuti Prasad’s son Karthik (debutant), Vikram (Manasara fame) and Bharat, an RJ. It has been completely shot in Bangkok and Pattaya. He quips, “I have been in touch with the cast who are my childhood friends on Facebook and it didn’t take long to finish it once we decided on it. Disha Pandey and Nikita Narayan are the heroines. The mood of the film is bright and the suspense adds beauty to the story. I want to give the new generation a different kind of cinema. I balanced the commercial aspect with the experiment and am very sure of its success,” says the confident debutant.
Source: Cinema Plus, The Hindu, November 11, 2012
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Cinema
After India and the US, Nigeria is World’s third biggest film producing
nation. In recent past many efforts have been made for possible collaboration between the Indian film industry and the Nigerian film industry. Against this backdrop, recent launch of Asian Chapter India of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN-ACI) acquires significance.
Asian Chapter India of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN-ACI) was inaugurated on June 29 2012 by Mr. Sandeep Marwaah, President of the famous Marwaah Studios in Noida. Motto of the new
Launch of Asian Chapter India of Actors’ Guild of Nigeria
organization is ‘unity through entertainment’.
Prince Ifeanyi Dike, Chairman Board of Trustee, AGN, Nigeria, said, “Our aim is to produce challenging and unique films of artistic and cultural value”. According to him, the AGN is making efforts to organize Nigerian Film Festival in India in the month of March-April 2013. The AGN intended to open a Nigerian Cultural Centre in India as well.
Prince Dike emphasised the role cinema can play in fostering greater mutual awareness between Nigeria and India.
Inputs from Nusra and Khushboo Kumari
Chairman of the Board of Trustee of Actors Guild Nigeria, Prince Ifeanyi Dike speaking to the audience during the inauguration of the Asian Chapter in India on June 29, 2012. On his right is Mr. Sandeep
Marwah, owner of Marwah Studios in Noida.
Nigerian actors and actresses, who are members of the Asian Chapter of Actors Guild Nigeria posing for a group photo
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India Beat Cameroon to Lift 2012 Nehru Cup
“Cameroon Team Liked Playing in Nehru Cup Football”Coach of the Cameroon football team, Emmanuel Ndoumbe Bosso which lost to Indian team in the final of the Nehru Cup, spoke to
InfiniTies 2013, before departing to Yaoundé
India beat Cameroon in a penalty shoot-out 5-4 to lift the Nehru Cup 2012 football tournament held on September 2, 2012. This is India's third
consecutive Nehru Cup title.
For the Indian football team, this is a matter of pride since the Cameroon side is ranked much higher to them in the FIFA rankings. India is ranked at 168 while Cameroon is ranked at 59 in the world. Cameroon football team also took part in the Beijing Olympics 2008.
Meanwhile, Cameroon side might have suffered a 4-5 loss to India in the Nehru Cup but many of the footballers now want to play in India's lucrative I-League.
"The Cameroon league is semi-professional. The players at the highest level get paid a little over $1000 a month. We are trying to make it fully professional," team coach Emmanuel Bosso said.
Cameroon Football Team Coach, Emmanuel Ndoumbe Bosso
"The Cameroonian players are looking at other world pro leagues and some of them, who were in India to play in the Nehru Cup, are keen on returning to play in the I-League. They are in negotiations with some top club managers and they should be playing in India's national league, if not this season, surely the next," coach added.
How will you describe the experience of Cameroon Football Team coming to India first time and reaching the finals of the Nehru Cup Football Tournament?
It's not a bad experience. This is a young team we are building to possibly replace first team because you know in Cameroon this is the second national team already, but for the players of the local league, none of them is professional. So in such tournaments like this one gets to see how they perform. The tournament was very well prepared.
What went wrong in the final? Cameroon team was favourite to win the 2012 Nehru Cup Football Tournament?
You know, I said it already, a final match is a single match. As you
know, everywhere you are having teams for third division, winning team for the first league and the final, all is possible, but you cannot accommodate them, but it's different when there is a tournament like we face at the first round, but I cannot even say that nothing went wrong because we played as well as possible, but we have only one team to score, we lost a lot of occasion of scoring and then we succeeded on two occasions, but India I can say had a luck to equalize so you know at the penalty kick you cannot say something about a penalty kick. Even the best players in the world lose the penalty.
You witnessed the performance of the Indian football team. How will you rate their level of the game?
They are not so different of the team I brought today. It seemed to
be a new team so it's a lot of work relatively and they have a problem. They are not so good in recuperation of balls. You know to play, you have all the inputs you are getting, you have to have ball and then when you do not have ball you're going to run and run and run and you become tired and nervous and so on. So they still lack aggressiveness, they are not more aggressive and the game is more individual than collective, and they have one player on which they count enough. So the others are trying and trying coming up with good work and trust the coach to do it and then let us give them two years at least.
What memories you are taking back from India to Cameroon?
That Cameroon and India have all things shared, but the level of football has to increase so that other countries would come and then bring their experiences here.
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“We owe a lot to Indians who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made” ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879-1955).
I stated recruiting students to India in year 2010, and that year alone, I recruited over 60 students. There was a lot of criticism on why I should send students to India while there are other educational destinations in Europe, America, Canada or even South Africa. On many occasions, some people would enter my office and ask me the reason why I think India is good for education. Then, I simply answer that India offers a better alternative education in terms of cost. One interesting story was a man that came into the office on sighting our Study in India banner quipped “I cannot send my child to India for education even if it is free”. Today two of his sons is in Bangalore, India, one studying Pharmacy and the other Journalism.
I first made my journey to India in January 2012 to have a look at Indian education and secondly
to see some of my students. I was very happy about two things. Firstly, the satisfaction expressed by my students about the quality of teaching in their schools. I remember very well, one of my Nursing students making a comment that “here in India, they don’t “read” books, but they “eat” books”. Secondly, the facilities available in these Institutions, with availability of good lab, teaching aids and exposure to modern trends.
I personally experienced the taste of Indian education when I went for three months training programme on Human Resource Deve lopment a t Nat iona l Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Noida India in 2011 courtesy, Government of India SCCAP Programme.(special thanks to the Diplomatic staff of India High Commission Nigeria for giving me the opportunity). From my experience, I have no doubt in my mind that good and qualitative education and training meant for the development of any nation is abounding in India and particularly the nation of Africa,
who most surprisingly share the same fate and destiny with India.
India has become a global des t ina t ion fo r qua l i ta t ive educa t ion . The coun t ry i s recognized as a world centre for education. Indian entrepreneurs are making a break- through in the world, their ideas, technical knowledge and entrepreneurship have yielded unprecedented growth in the nation’s journey to become a leading nation.
Indian Institutions are known for their world class education in the field of Information Technology, Engineering and of course, Medical Sciences. And a large number of students come from US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam to study in India. I met a woman recently who told me that she is much more interested in sending her daughter to India for degree course in Architecture, because, historically India is a home of good architectural design. To lead credence to her claim, I took notice of this while I was in India as I always open my mouth ajar whenever I see most of their architectural designs.
Study in India: No Limit, No Compromise
By Michael Adebayo (Oredian Education Resources Limited)
Education
Amity University Campus, Noida
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Education
I want to dwell on some areas of Indian education that is worth mentioning and seeking attention for any Nigerian aspirant to study in India. Apart from first-hand information received on my two visits to various Institutions in India, I have equally researched the Indian education system to know some of the factors that make it a growing system, and this includes:
Quality of Education: The taste of pudding is in the eating. Quality is the hall mark for education planning and development in India. These include development of infrastructure, curriculum, human resources and research in areas of education. To maintain and sustain standard, it is mandatory for all the Indian institutions to be recognized by appropriate National and International statutory bodies for compliances to quality standards such as AICTE, UGU, MCI, NAAC and ISO. Also, Institutions are rated in India according to the level of their standard, and quality of their output and meeting recommended guidelines, such as Grade “A” or “B” or “C”.
Infrastructure: Infrastructure such as good classroom, Lab, and equipment are very important in any education system and Indian universities and colleges are given adequate grants every year to ensure that they are able to maintain and up- grade their infrastructure. I have visited some public and private Institutions in India, and they are world class in term of physical structure. A good example is Amity University, Noida, SRM University, Chennai.
Curriculum: Like Nigeria, Indian education system is in stages. While we operate 6-3-3-4 here in Nigeria, India education system operates 10 + 2 + 3 structure of curriculum. This is Indian National standard uniform curriculum and is comparable to international standard.
The first degree is obtained after 3 years of study in the most of the Bachelor programmes, and four
years in the case of Engineering, Nursing, and Pharmacy etc. Medicine is between five and six years. The Master's programme is usually of two years duration. The research degrees (M.Phil and Ph.D) take variable time depending upon the student.
The postgraduate degree programs involve 2 years of study after first degree. These include M.Tech, MD, MS and MDS programmes that take 2 years after B.Tech and MBBS/BDS respectively. In recent times, some notable Indian Institutions have partnered with Universities in America, Canada, Australia, UK and Germany to offer what is known as “Twin Degree”. Whereby student enrolled in Indian University can finish up in any of the foreign partner University, in which he obtained a certificate of Indian University and that of partner foreign University. Also, some university in India, offer “Dual Degree”, that enable student to pursue both Bachelor and Master degrees at once, graduating with both certificates.
Furthermore, in a manner similar to Nigerian “direct entry”, some institutions offer “lateral entry” for holders of Diploma Certificate. Such students are usually admitted to second year of their respective courses.
Faculty: I had a personal experience with some Indian facilitators and interacted with some of the University lecturers during my training in India. No doubt, the lecturers are very up-to-date in their areas of specialization. Another feature is their ability to expand and expound each knowledge horizon. There I witnessed practically the common saying in academic world that “if you are not current, you are not correct”.
Affordable Tuition fee and cost of living: The most common question students and parents ask me is
about the cost of schooling in India. I always tell them that India has one of the most affordable education systems in the world. The quality of Indian education is comparable to the best available anywhere in the world, while costs are less and affordable. Depending on the course, one can study in India with fee as low as $3000 per annum including tuition and living cost
International Placement: Many international companies, especially the Fortune 500 companies visit India’s best institutions to recruit graduates placement. So, I find this most rewarding and encouraging aspect of studying in India.
All round development: In spite of the rigor of academic work in Indian Institutions, there are opportunities for growth and development in other areas too. College festivals, sports meets, students clubs etc, form an important part of a student’s activity in India. Students are also acquainted with some aspect of India’s economy and commerce through visits to public and private enterprises.
Entry Requirements: Unlike some other education destinations, the requirement for university admission in India is not so difficult. For example, according to Association of India Universities requirements, Nigerian certificate of West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council of Nigeria (NECO) is a must for admission process.
English Medium: India has the 3rd largest English speaking population in the world. Medium of instruction in all Indian Universities is English. In my interaction with Indian Institutions where I have most of my students, they are doing great and are coping excellently with their study because of their background in English language.
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Prestige Assurance Plc – A Perspective of A True General Insurer
While setting a milestone in Indo-Nigeria mutual relationship, The New
India Assurance Company Ltd, Mumbai, inaugurated its overseas office in Lagos, Nigeria on 16th August 1952 as expansion of insurance trade in West Africa.
This Branch Office of New India was incorporated on 6th January 1970 as a Public Company under the name: The New India Assurance Company (Nigeria) Ltd. However, in order to reflect the majority share holding of the Nigerian public in the Company, its name changed to PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC on 24th September 1992, in line with the indigenisation decree passed by government of Nigeria.
After successful recapitalisation in 2007, Prestige Assurance currently operates as a Subsidiary Company of The New India Assurance Company Ltd, Mumbai,. New India is a ‘A’ rated company by A.M. Best Company of U.S.A and hold 51% share in ‘Prestige’ in post-recapitalisation era.
Today ‘Prestige’ has a pristine glory of 59 years of successful operations in Nigeria and as a key player in the general insurance industry, distinguishes itself by winning three times, the prestigious PEARL Sectoral Leadership Award for the highest Profit Margin Ratio Company among public quoted companies in insurance sub sector of Nigerian economy.
‘Prestige’ also won the following awards as under:
1. Business Leadership Award 2007, by Corporate Press Services Inc.
2. Insidebusiness Commendation on Nigeria Television Authority B e s t I n s u r a n c e C o m p a n y 2008 (Innovation and Claim Settlement).
3. ‘Prestige’ is rated as one of the Top 100 largest Companies in Nigeria
by Businessworld Magazine.4. International Star Award for
Quality, Geneva, 2011
Shareholder’s delight is consistent with progressive dividends and bonus issues since 1970.
‘Prestige’ has a policy of sound underwriting practice and the main emphasis of the organization is security and reliability. The Company has the capacity and technical skills to underwrite traditional as well as most complex risks in Nigeria. Prestige Assurance’s strong and stable Board as well as experienced and sound and professionally qualified management team consisting of Nigerians and Indians has helped to create a niche for the Company amongst corporate, institutional investors and high net worth individuals. New India Assurance’s financial and technical expertise and support acts as a backbone to ‘Prestige’s operations in Nigeria.
‘Prestige’ has come of age and is ready to take its place as number one company in the Nigerian insurance industry through provision of prompt, efficient and qualitative services
to its numerous clients’ desired comfort, constantly rewarding our esteemed shareholders with adequate returns on their investments and also contribute to the development of insurance business in the Nigerian Economy.
As a proactive organization, ‘Prestige’ has positioned itself as a mega financial supermarket for its esteemed clients, having successfully embarked on Lease Financing, Commercial Papers, Bankers’ Acceptances, and investment in Pension Fund Administrator and hospitality business. We intend to diversify into Real Estate Development which is going to positively reflect in the company’s performance.
Prestige Assurance Plc confronted with a major challenge to insurance industry by the unfortunate Air Crash on 3rd June 2012 claiming 160 lives and property on ground is meeting her obligation in settling all verified claims arising from this crash of Dana Airlines to the families of the crashed victims. The claim settlement is on-going.
‘Prestige’ prides itself in experienced and dedicated staff. Our human resources are the greatest asset that have helped the Company to remain on the path of profitability and growth over the years. The Company has a comprehensive welfare package and a housing policy that affords the staff to build their own houses. Also there is local and overseas training policy and scholarship scheme for brilliant children of staff. Hence the Company has a very low staff turnover.
Equally concerned about its corporate social responsibility, ‘Prestige’ has been supporting various cultural, social, charitable projects as well as sports activities in Nigeria in its endeavour to strengthen brotherhood, fraternity and a service to humanity. ‘Prestige’ takes pride in contributing though in a small way, to socio-economic change of Nigeria.
Dr. Anand Prakash MittalManaging Director/Chief
Executive OfficerPrestige Assurance Plc
Business Writeup
