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…Says with over 200 companies in Nigeria, Indian investments exceeding $27bn
From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
High Commissioner Designate of India to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, has hailed the resilience of women, saying that women contribute 18 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of India.
Speaking at an event to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child and the distribution of gift items to approximately 2000 girls at the Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse, Abuja, Singh emphasised the importance of the United Nations International Day of the Girl Child and recalled the collective responsibility to amplify the voices, rights, and dreams of girls, not just in Nigeria or India, but across the world.
The immediate past Indian Ambassador to Venezuela highlighted the India–Nigeria bilateral relations, strong people-to-people ties, long history of collaboration, shared colonial struggles, and common challenges and opportunities.
He recalled India’s flagship initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) and highlighted India’s growth story as the 4th largest economy and the increasing contribution of women in all sectors, including women in power as presidents and prime ministers.
He noted that women’s workforce participation rate grew from 22 percent in 2017–18 to 40.3 percent in 2023–24, adding that “women currently contribute 18 percent to India’s GDP, with this contribution steadily increasing.”
Singh also stated that India has the largest number of female commercial pilots in the world and underscored India’s willingness to share its experiences with partners like Nigeria.
He appreciated the dynamic efforts underway in Nigeria for women’s empowerment and inclusive development, acknowledging the government’s focus under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on economic empowerment, social protection, and increased political participation of women.
While further emphasising the need to harness Nigeria’s demographic dividend for a better and sustainable future, Singh noted that over 70 percent of the population is under 30, 42 percent under the age of 15, with a median age of approximately 18.1 making Nigeria one of the youngest populations in the world.
He acknowledged the increasing role of Nigeria in the world and in the Global South, and the vital contributions of Nigerian women to the country’s development.
The Indian high commissioner appreciated the Indian companies operating in Nigeria and their contributions.
He disclosed that Indian companies were the second-largest employers of labour in Nigeria after the federal government, with over 200 companies and total investments exceeding US$27 billion.
Highlighting the strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) credentials of Indian companies, Sing noted that India’s robust CSR ecosystem contributes meaningfully to social, environmental, and economic development.
He encouraged young girls to dream big and work hard to achieve their aspirations, quoting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said “When a girl rises, a family grows and a nation shines.”
Speaking earlier, the Director/Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Board, Dr. Mohammed Sani Ladan, said girls are the heartbeat of the future as innovators, leaders, and change makers that are well groomed.
“As a Board, we remain committed to creating safe, inclusive, and empowering learning environments where every girl can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally,” Ladan said.
Also speaking, the Principal, Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse, Abuja, Fatima Mohammed, said with the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, the entire nation and the world is celebrating girls because they were the ones at the forefront of making things happen.
