President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, said the training he received at the Indian Defence Services College, Wellington, India, in 1973 formed part of his success in the military.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari stated this when he hosted the Indian Minister of State for External and Parliamentary Affairs, Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, at State House, Abuja,
The statement is titled, ‘At meeting with Indian Minister, President Buhari recollects days at Defence Services College, Wellington.’
Buhari who went down memory lane on his one-year training in the country as a military officer in 1973 said, “it was a very good experience. I think I was a Lt Colonel then, and I spent a year in India. We traveled and met international people from different countries. It became part of my success story in the military.”
He emphasised the strong ties between the two countries saying that the Nigerian Defence Academy was established by Indians, and the two countries had a firm relationship economically, politically, and in the area of security.
He added that Nigeria and India must continue to build on the longstanding relationship, to the benefit of both countries.
On his part, Muraleedharan, who described Nigeria as “centre of our (India’s) engagement with Africa, said he was in the country to take part in the Nigeria-India Business Council.
He also said President Buhari was a “worthy alumnus of our Defence Services College.”
The Minister also extended the regards of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, adding that Nigeria and India had robust relations in business, defense, education, and many other areas.
He said India as the largest democracy in the world was willing to partner with Nigeria towards successful general elections in 2023.