A United States of America-based Nigerian security expert, Dr Sylvester Okere, on Sunday, hailed the Indian-Nigerian partnership, noting that it would help improve security in both countries.
Okere, who would be among the personalities to be hosted by the Central Association of Private Security Industry from November 21 to 22, 2024 in India, said the invitation by CAPSI to the 19th Security Leadership Summit 2024 in New Delhi is coming at a time when the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi arrived in Nigeria for a state visit.
Okere is billed to speak on the theme, ‘Indian-Nigerian Partnership in Securing People and Assets,’ as well as other critical security issues affecting both countries.
The PUNCH gathered that CAPSI, the umbrella organisation of the Indian private security industry, has ties with some of the leading global security education organisations like the World Association of Detectives, the International Federation of Protection Officers, among others.
Okere said, “This visit to Nigeria by the Indian Prime Minister will pave the way for high-level discussions between the two Presidents, focusing on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, energy and education.”
A statement signed by President Bola Tinibu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Modi arrived in Nigeria on Saturday and is expected to meet with Tinubu on Sunday, adding that “this would be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Nigeria in 17 years.”
India, with a population of more than 1.4 billion people, is the largest democracy in the world, while Nigeria with more than 220 million people, is the largest in Africa. India opened its Diplomatic House in Lagos State in November 1958, two years before Nigeria gained its independence.
Okere is a certified institutional protection manager with a primary focus on industrial security, infrastructure and trade facilitation. He is the Founding President of Strategic Groups USA LLC, a private security firm and an approved vendor with the United Nations.