Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
Sunnu Nigeria! Namaste!
Today, you have truly created a marvellous atmosphere in Abuja. Witnessing everything since last evening, it feels as though I am not in Abuja but in a city of Bharat. Many of you have travelled to Abuja from Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt, coming from diverse locations, and the glow on your faces, the energy and excitement you exude, reflect your eagerness to be here. I, too, eagerly awaited this opportunity to meet you. Your love and affection are a tremendous treasure for me. Being among you, spending time with you, these moments will remain etched in my memory for a lifetime.
Friends,
This is my first visit to Nigeria as Prime Minister. But I have not come alone; I have brought with me the fragrance of Indian soil. I have also brought with me countless good wishes from crores of Indians. Your happiness at Bharat's progress is heartfelt, and here, every Indian swells with pride at your achievements. How much pride, you ask? To an immense degree—mine swells to '56 inch Ka seena'!
Friends,
I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to President Tinubu and the people of Nigeria for the extraordinary welcome I have received. Just a short while ago, President Tinubu honoured me with the National Award of Nigeria. This honour is not just for Modi; it belongs to the crores of Indians and to all of you, the Indian community here.
Friends,
I humbly dedicate this honour to all of you.
Friends,
During my discussions with President Tinubu, he repeatedly commended your contributions to Nigeria's progress. As I listened to him and observed the sparkle in his eyes, I felt an immense sense of pride. It was akin to the joy and pride a family feels when one of its members achieves great success. Just as parents and villagers celebrate the accomplishments of one of their own, I share in that same emotion. You have not only dedicated your hard work and effort to Nigeria but have also given your heart to this nation. The Indian community has always stood by Nigeria, sharing in both its joys and sorrows. Many Nigerians, now in their forties or sixties, will recall being taught by Indian teachers. Indian doctors continue to serve the people here. Indian entrepreneurs have established businesses in Nigeria, contributing significantly to the nation’s development. For example, Kishinchand Chellaram ji arrived here even before Bharat's independence, and who could have known then that his company would grow to become one of Nigeria’s leading business houses. Today, several Indian companies are strengthening Nigeria's economy. Tolaram ji’s noodles are enjoyed in households across the country. The foundation established by Tulsichand Rai ji is lighting up the lives of many Nigerians. The Indian community collaborates hand in hand with the local people for the betterment of Nigeria. This unity and shared purpose reflect the greatest strength of the Indian people—their values. Wherever we go, we uphold our values, striving for the welfare of all. These values, embedded in our veins for centuries, teach us to consider the entire world as one family. To us, the whole world truly is one family.
Friends,
The immense pride you have brought to Indian culture here in Nigeria is evident everywhere. Yoga, in particular, is becoming increasingly popular among the people here. I believe it is the Nigerians themselves practising yoga, rather than just you, and I gathered this from the sound of enthusiastic applause. Friends, earn money, gain fame, achieve whatever you desire, but also dedicate some time to yoga. I have heard that a weekly yoga programme is even broadcast on national television here. Perhaps you don't watch local TV, and are more interested in Indian channels—keeping up with the weather in Bharat, or the latest news and incidents. And here in Nigeria, the Hindi language is also gaining popularity. Many young Nigerians, especially students from Kano, are learning Hindi. In fact, in Kano, Hindi enthusiasts have even formed a group called Dostana, present here today. With so much camaraderie, it’s only natural to have an affinity for Indian films. During lunch, I chatted with some locals who know the names of all the Indian actors and films. In the northern regions, people gather for Indian cultural performances, and phrases like 'Namaste Wahala'—a term rooted in Gujarati, 'Maharawala'—are familiar here. Indian films like 'Namaste Wahala' and web series like 'Postcards' are highly appreciated in Nigeria.
Friends,
Gandhiji spent many years in Africa, sharing the joys and sorrows of its people. During the era of colonialism, both Indians and Nigerians played crucial roles in the struggle for freedom. Bharat's independence later inspired Nigeria’s freedom movement. Today, Bharat and Nigeria are advancing together as partners from those days of struggle. Bharat, as the Mother of Democracy, and Nigeria, the largest democracy in Africa, share the spirit of democracy, diversity, and demographic energy. Both countries are enriched with numerous languages and varied customs. Here in Nigeria, temples such as Lord Jagannath of Lagos, Lord Venkateswara, Ganapati Dada, and Kartikeya stand as symbols of respect for cultural diversity. Today, as I stand among you, I extend heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the people of Bharat to the government of Nigeria for their cooperation in building these sacred sites.
Friends,
When Bharat gained independence, the challenges were immense. Our forefathers worked relentlessly to overcome these obstacles, and today, the world is talking about Bharat's rapid development. Isn't that true? Does this news reach your ears? And when it does, does it make its way to your lips? And from your lips, does it settle in your heart? We all take immense pride in Bharat's achievements. Tell me, do you also feel that pride? When Chandrayaan landed on the moon, were you not brimming with pride? Did you not stay glued to your screens, eyes wide open, that day? And when Mangalyaan reached Mars, did it not fill you with joy? Seeing the Made-in-India fighter jet Tejas or the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, do you not feel a sense of pride? Today, Bharat stands on par with the world's leading nations in sectors like space, manufacturing, digital technology, and healthcare. We all know that the long years of colonial rule severely weakened our economy. Despite numerous challenges, Bharat's economy crossed the one trillion dollar mark in the 6 decades after independence. Do you remember how long that took? Six decades! Yes, six decades. I am not here to teach, just to remind you. We Indians persevered, and now let’s have a round of applause. Ah, you have clapped already, but let me tell you why we should clap even louder. In the past decade alone, Bharat has added approximately 2 trillion dollars to its GDP. In just ten years, our economy has doubled in size. Today, Bharat stands as the fifth-largest economy in the world. Will you remember that? And the day is not far when Bharat will become a 5 trillion dollar economy, ranking as the third-largest in the world.
Friends,
We often hear that only those who step out of their comfort zones achieve greatness. You certainly don’tneed this explained to you, as you have already ventured far. Today, Bharat and its youth are progressing with the same spirit, which is why Bharat is rapidly making strides in new sectors. You may not have even heard the term "startup" 10–15 years ago. Once, I organized a conference to promote startups. Only 8–10 attendees were involved in startups; the rest were there just to understand what startups were all about. A young woman from Bengal stood up to share her experience because I needed to illustrate what this new world entailed. She was well-educated, deserving of a good job, and was comfortably settled. Yet she gave it all up, and she explained her journey. She went to her village and told her mother that she had left everything, including her job, to start a venture. Her mother reacted in shock, exclaiming 'mahavinash' (great destruction). But today, this generation has resolved to leave their comfort zones and innovate for a new Bharat, and the results have been phenomenal. There are now more than 1.5 lakh registered startups in Bharat. The word "startup," which once made mothers cry 'mahavinash', has now transformed into 'mahavikas' (great development). In the past decade, Bharat has birthed over 100 unicorns. For context, a unicorn is a company valued at 8,000 to 10,000 crore rupees. More than 100 such companies, built by the youth of Bharat, are now bearing the flag of Bharat's startup culture. And why has this happened? How did this come about? It’s because Bharat has stepped out of its comfort zone.
Friends,
Let me give you another example. Bharat has long been recognized for its service sector, a major pillar of our economy. But we weren't content with just that. We chose to push beyond our comfort zone and committed to transforming Bharat into a world-class manufacturing hub. We have greatly expanded our manufacturing industry. Today, Bharat ranks among the largest mobile phone manufacturers in the world, producing over 30 crore mobile phones annually—far more than Nigeria’s needs. Over the last decade, our mobile phone exports have increased more than 75-fold. Likewise, our defence exports have multiplied nearly 30 times in the same period. Today, we export defence equipment to over 100 countries.
Friends,
The world is taking note of Bharat's achievements in the space industry and appreciating the same. Bharat has declared its ambition to soon send Indians into space through the Gaganyaan mission. Additionally, Bharat is preparing to build a space station.
Friends,
Leaving our comfort zone, innovating, and paving new paths have become defining characteristics of Bharat. In the last decade, we have lifted 25 crore people out of poverty. This massive reduction in poverty serves as an inspiring example for the world, instilling hope that if Bharat can do it, so can others. With newfound self-confidence, Bharat has embarked on a journey towards development. Our vision is to make Bharat a developed nation by 2047, when we celebrate 100 years of independence. For those of you hoping to retire comfortably and live well in your later years, know that I am laying the groundwork for your future now. As we work towards that grand vision for 2047, every Indian is striving collectively to build a developed and magnificent Bharat. Even you, living here in Nigeria, play a significant role in this mission.
Friends,
In areas such as growth, peace, prosperity, and democracy, Bharat has emerged as a beacon of hope for the world. Wherever you go, people look upon you with respect. Isn’t that true? Be honest, what do you experience? When you say you are from India—whether you call it India, Hindustan, or Bharat—people feel an energy, a connection, as if holding your hand will bring them strength.
Friends,
Whenever a crisis occurs anywhere in the world, India stands ready as a first responder, embracing our role as a global ally (Vishwa-Bandhu). You might recall the chaos during the coronavirus pandemic. The world was in turmoil, and every nation was preoccupied with vaccine shortages. At that critical moment, Bharat resolved to share vaccines with as many countries as possible. This is part of our cultural values, rooted in thousands of years of tradition. As a result, Bharat ramped up vaccine production and supplied medicines and vaccines to over 150 countries, including Nigeria. This is no small achievement. Thanks to these efforts, countless lives were saved in many African nations, including Nigeria.
Friends,
Today’s Bharat stands for ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. I see Africa, including Nigeria, as a key region for future development. In the last five years alone, Bharat has opened 18 new embassies across Africa. Over recent years, Bharat has also worked tirelessly to amplify Africa’s voice on the global stage. A prime example of this was last year when Bharat held the presidency of the G20 for the first time. We made significant efforts to ensure that the African Union became a permanent member, and we succeeded. I am delighted that every G20 member country fully supported Bharat's initiative. At Bharat's invitation, Nigeria witnessed this historic moment as an honoured guest nation. One of President Tinubu’s earliest visits after taking office was to Bharat, and he was one of the first leaders to attend the G20 Summit.
Friends,
Many of you frequently travel to Bharat, joining your families for celebrations, festivals, and times of joy or sorrow. Your relatives often call or send messages from Bharat. Now, as a member of your extended family, I am here in person and have a special invitation for you. In January next year, Bharat will be hosting a series of major festivals. Every year, on 26 January, we celebrate Republic Day in Delhi. In the second week of January, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be celebrated, and this time it will be hosted in Odisha at the sacred feet of Lord Jagannath. Friends from across the globe will gather for this occasion. Additionally, from 13 January to 26 February, the Maha Kumbh Mela will take place in Prayagraj for 45 days. It’s a wonderful alignment of events, and a perfect time for you to visit Bharat. I encourage you to come, bring your children, and even invite your Nigerian friends to experience the spirit of Bharat. Prayagraj is near Ayodhya and Kashi isn’t far either. If you visit for the Kumbh Mela, don’t miss the chance to explore these sacred sites. The newly constructed Vishwanath Dham in Kashi is breathtaking. And in Ayodhya, after 500 years, a magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shri Ram has been built. You should see it, and bring your children along. This journey, starting with Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, followed by the Maha Kumbh and then Republic Day, will be a unique 'Triveni' for you. It’san extraordinary opportunity to connect with Bharat's progress and rich heritage. I know many of you have visited Bharat before, perhaps several times. But mark my words; this visit will create unforgettable memories and bring immense joy. Since my arrival yesterday, your warmth, enthusiasm, and love have been overwhelming. It has been a privilege to meet you, and I am deeply grateful to you.
Say along with me—
Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
Thanks a lot!
