Nigeria, India strengthen ties through movie collaboration

Nigeria and India have taken another significant step to deepen bilateral relations as both countries have collaborated on the people-to-people platform to promote the movie industry, arts and culture as part of events to mark the 75th Independence anniversary of India.

This development was marked by the screening of a movie entitled “NAMASTE WAHALA” produced by India’s Movie Industry popularly known as Bollywood and Nigeria’s Nollywood at the Indian High Commission in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

The film, which featured popular Nigerian stars including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Joke Silva and Broda Shaggy, and some Indian actors, was produced to encourage interracial marriage and cultural exchanges between Nigerians and Indians.

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhay Thakur, at the screening of the movie  said “it’s a great pleasure to see Bollywood and Nollywood actors coming together,” stressing the value of the movie industry as a driver of the economy in terms of the contributions it makes in employment in the service sector.

The envoy, who used the occasion to launch a magazine entitled “India in Nigeria: Partners in Progress,”  said “both countries have successfully overcome the debilitating effects of colonialism to evolve as strong global advocates of democracy, diversity, and development for all.

“Today, India is the largest democracy in the world and Nigeria is the largest democracy in Africa.”

“With diplomatic relations spanning over six decades, our two countries have, over the years, become strong partners in trade and investment, energy, security, education, health, defence, space and various capacity building and training programmes.

“Our relationship at multinational fora has been exemplary. These ties have only grown stronger during the testing times of the pandemic.”

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who was represented by a Deputy Director in the Ministry, Ugochi Akudo, said it was “an affirmation of the cordial relationship between Nigeria and India that has translated to a relationship between our movie industries.” She added   that it will strengthen socio-economic empowerment, job creation and the value chain of the film industry.

Other dignitaries who graced the occasion include; Senior Special Adviser to The President on Information, Femi Adesina; Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Adamu Muhammed Bulkachuwa; Ambassador  Bolaji Akinremi and Director Consular and Legal Services Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs among others.

Ime N