The Indian government has trained over 27,500 Nigerian professionals through its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program over the last 45 years, according to Shri Balasubramanian, the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria. He made this announcement during the 2024 ITEC Day reception in Abuja.
ITEC, an institutionalized capacity-building initiative by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, has provided free training to over 200,000 officials from more than 160 countries, including Nigeria, across civilian and defense sectors.
“We began this cooperation with Nigeria in 1979 through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning. Since then, we have trained around 500 Nigerians each year,” Balasubramanian noted, emphasizing the program’s impact on professional development in the country.
Highlighting some recent initiatives, the envoy mentioned that 28 Nigerian law enforcement officers underwent specialized training in India earlier this year, with ongoing training in fields such as digital health and space technology.
Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, lauded India’s efforts in enhancing the skills of Nigerians. Represented by Ambassador Mistura Mohammed, he remarked, “The ITEC Programme has empowered Nigerians with skills and knowledge that directly contribute to our nation’s development.”
Ahmed further praised the collaboration as a strong example of South-South cooperation, crediting the program with advancing key sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure in Nigeria.
