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 opportunities for Nigerian professionals and students to benefit from India’s educational and training institutions.
Interested applicants should regularly follow the official information shared by the High Commission/Consulate and the relevant government of India portals for eligibility criteria, available courses and application procedures.
There is also considerable scope for greater cooperation in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, digital technologies and innovation. We welcome institutional partnerships between universities, research organisations and technology institutions of the two countries.
India is known as the ‘pharmacy of the world.’ What is being done to increase access to affordable Indian generic medicines and support pharma manufacturing in Nigeria? And beyond business, what cultural programs are planned to strengthen people-to-people ties?
India and Nigeria have a long history of cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Indian pharmaceutical companies have established a significant presence in Nigeria and have contributed to the availability of quality and affordable medicines.
The Consulate encourages responsible business engagement and interaction between relevant stakeholders from both countries. There is also potential for greater cooperation in pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare services, technology, skills development and related areas.
At the same time, healthcare cooperation is ultimately about people. We believe that partnerships which strengthen local capacity and contribute to sustainable healthcare outcomes can be particularly valuable.
On the cultural side, India has a very rich and diverse cultural tradition, and activities involving yoga, Indian cuisine, music, dance and cinema provide natural avenues for people-to-people interaction.
Within the Independence Day, the Consulate seeks to showcase India’s cultural diversity and heritage and to encourage greater participation by our Nigerian friends. Such cultural engagement complements our economic and diplomatic relations by bringing our peoples closer together.
With over 50,000 Indians living in Nigeria, what new initiative is the Consulate launching to support and engage them?
The welfare of Indian nationals and the provision of efficient and accessible consular services remain important responsibilities of the Consulate.
We continuously seek to improve the delivery of passport, visa and other consular services within the applicable rules and procedures. We also maintain regular engagement with community organisations and Indian nationals so that their concerns can be appropriately addressed through the established channels.
With regard to the Indian community, I would also like to acknowledge its long-standing contribution to Nigeria’s economic development and to people-to-people relations between our two countries.
Independence Day celebrations provide an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate India’s rich heritage, diversity and achievements. They also provide an opportunity to share India’s culture and traditions with our Nigerian friends and strengthen the bonds of friendship between our peoples.
With India’s 80th Independence Day holding today, August 15, 2026. What message would you like to share with both the Indian diaspora in Nigeria and Nigerians, and how do you see India-Nigeria partnership reflecting the spirit of ‘Viksit Bharat’?
India’s Independence Day is an occasion to celebrate our freedom, reflect on our remarkable journey as a nation, and renew our commitment to building a prosperous, inclusive and developed India.
I extend my warm greetings to the Indian community in Nigeria and to our Nigerian friends on this special occasion. The Indian community has made valuable contributions to Nigeria’s economic and social development, and it continues to serve as an important bridge between our two countries.
The vision of Viksit Bharat is centered on inclusive development, innovation, entrepreneurship, skills, technology and improved opportunities for our people. There are many areas where India’s development experience and Nigeria’s own development priorities complement each other.
Our partnership can therefore contribute to shared prosperity through trade and investment, technology, healthcare, education, skills development, agriculture, manufacturing and entrepreneurship. The objective is not simply to increase cooperation, but to ensure that our partnership produces tangible and mutually beneficial outcomes for the people of both countries.
I would also like to reiterate that India attaches very high importance to its relationship with Nigeria.
The overall trajectory of India–Nigeria relations always positive, and there is substantial potential for further cooperation in trade, investment, healthcare, technology, skills, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
Our focus at the Consulate is to strengthen this longstanding friendship and to facilitate practical, mutually beneficial cooperation between India and Nigeria.
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