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Her Excellency Queen Imaria Worlu, the High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to India, was invited to a discussion on ‘Strengthening and upgrading India-Nigeria relations: the way forward’, held at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) on 15 June 2017. Amb Mahesh Sachdev, former Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Ruchita Beri, Senior Research Associate, IDSA, Prof Suresh Kumar, Head, Department of African Studies, University of Delhi, Prof Rajen Harshe, Faculty Member, South Asian University, New Delhi, and Lt Gen R K Gaur (Retd) were among other notable invitees to the discussion, while Mr Jayant Khobargade, Joint Secretary (West Africa) and Ms Nilakshi Saha Sinha, Director (West Africa) represented the Ministry of External Affairs (India) through the discussions.

With General N C Vij, former Army Chief of India and Director, VIF, presiding over the event, Amb Dinkar Prakash Srivastava, India’s former Ambassador to Iran and Distinguished Fellow, VIF, moderated the discussions. While discussions were held over the entire range of bilateral relations between India and Nigeria, - establishing direct air connectivity between India and Nigeria, training of Nigerian professionals by India, issues related to Nigerian students in India, multiple entry visas, hostel facilities etc. - bilateral defence and energy cooperation also figured prominently through the discussions.