Nigeria has pledged to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with India as both countries prepare for the India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi later this month.

The commitment was made on Thursday during a meeting between the Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, and India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Ahmed described Nigeria and India as strategic partners bound by shared democratic values and a common push for sustainable development and South-South cooperation. He said Abuja is keen on expanding collaboration ahead of the summit, particularly in trade, manufacturing, agriculture, mining, renewable energy, and defence capacity building.

The Indian envoy briefed the Nigerian delegation on preparations for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for May 14–15 and the India-Africa Forum Summit expected on May 31 in New Delhi. Singh noted that Nigeria, as a BRICS partner country and a key African stakeholder, holds a central place in India’s engagement strategy on the continent.

Discussions also covered ongoing initiatives under the International Solar Alliance and the Africa Solar Facility, aimed at boosting renewable energy investment in Nigeria. Ahmed added that Nigeria is looking to attract more Indian investment and deepen security cooperation through technology transfer and joint capacity building.

President Bola Tinubu has been invited to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the summit, which returns after a decade-long break. Officials say the meeting will bring together African leaders, ministers, investors, and business stakeholders to reset economic and diplomatic ties.