President Muhammadu Buhari has said that schooling at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India became part of his success story in the Nigerian military.
His spokesman, Femi Adesina quoted the president as stating this on Tuesday when he hosted Indian Minister of State for External and Parliamentary Affairs, Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, at State House, Abuja
Adesina said that during the meeting with the Indian minister, who is in Nigeria to take part in the Nigeria-India Business Council, Buhari went down memory lane on his one-year training in the country as a military officer.
The president recalled the 1973 visit, saying; “it was a very good experience. I think I was a Lt Colonel then, and I spent a year in India. We traveled and met international people from different countries. It became part of my success story in the military.”
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To buttress the strong relationship between the two countries, Buhari said the Nigerian Defence Academy was established by Indians, and the two countries have firm relationship economically, politically, and in the area of security.
He added that Nigeria and India must continue to build on the longstanding relationship, to the benefit of both countries.
The statement said Muraleedharan described Nigeria as “centre of our engagement with Africa.”
He added that President Buhari was a “worthy alumnus of our Defence Services College.”
Muraleedharan brought greetings from the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, adding that Nigeria and India have robust relations in business, defense, education, and many other areas.
He said India as the largest democracy in the world was willing to partner with Nigeria towards successful general elections in 2023.