India attaches very high importance to its relationship with Nigeria – Chockalingam

By Vera Shri Kannan Chockalingam, Consul General of the Consulate General of the Republic of India in Nigeria, is a career diplomat with the Ministry of External Affairs of the government of India. An engineer by training and a committed diplomat, Chockalingam has held various roles advancing India’s foreign policy and partnerships with countries across the globe. He describes his current posting to Nigeria as especially fulfilling, citing the strategic importance of India-Nigeria ties and the huge potential to deepen cooperation between both countries.

During the interview, he highlighted several avenues for further strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and India. Excerpt; How is Indian High Commission/ Consulate working to expand India-Nigeria trade beyond oil, especially in pharmaceuticals, fintech, renewable energy, and manufacturing and what opportunities exist for Nigerian SMEs to partner with Indian companies in 2026 and beyond? India–Nigeria economic relations are already quite broad, and there is considerable scope to further diversify and deepen them.

The Consulate facilitates engagement between Indian and Nigerian business communities by supporting business delegations, facilitating contacts with relevant stakeholders, sharing information and encouraging greater business-to-business interaction. Pharmaceuticals, healthcare, information technology, digital services, renewable energy, agriculture, food processing, manufacturing and other value-added sectors offer significant potential for cooperation. For Nigerian SMEs, partnerships with Indian companies can provide opportunities for technology cooperation, investment, joint ventures, skills development and access to wider markets.

At the same time, Nigerian companies bring valuable local knowledge, networks and market understanding. India has strong programs like ITEC, ICCR scholarships, and digital skill partnerships. How can more Nigerian students and professionals access these, and are there plans to expand tech/STEM collaboration between Indian and Nigerian institutions?

India attaches great importance to capacity building and human resource development as an important component of its development partnership. Programmes such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, or ITEC, and scholarships offered through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations provide opport…