A delegation of Nigerian parliamentarians is set to participate in India’s Diaspora Day celebrations — Pravasi Bharatiya Divas — scheduled to start in Jaipur tomorrow.
The delegation for the three-day event will comprise the House of Representatives Committee on diaspora matters and will be led by its chairman, renowned journalist Ms Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
“We look forward to sharing experience with India because Nigeria is the largest democracy in the African continent, a position occupied by India in the Asian continent,” Ms Erewa said, adding that the Nigerian parliament will soon pass a bill for the establishment of a diaspora commission.
“During our discussions on this in parliament, we were inspired when we learnt that India has a full-fledged Ministry of Overseas Affairs and we wish to use this example as a template,” she said.
Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev, said in a statement: “Although the event is essentially meant for ethnic Indians alone, as an exception, they have welcomed the initiative of the distinguished committee to engage with Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs at the PBD Convention at Jaipur.”
The annual congregation of Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin will see over 1,300 delegates from 24 countries participate in the event to be addressed by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh on Sunday.