President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received an invitation from the Indian government to participate in the 2026 India-Africa Summit scheduled for May 31 in New Delhi.
India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, revealed this during a media briefing, explaining that the summit is aimed at boosting trade, diplomatic, cultural and strategic ties between India and African nations.
According to him, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally invited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to head Nigeria’s delegation at the gathering, which will bring together African presidents, ministers, investors and cultural stakeholders.
Singh said India considers Nigeria a major partner in its relationship with Africa because of its democratic standing and economic influence across the continent. He noted that the summit would focus on security cooperation, political dialogue, economic partnerships, trade expansion, development initiatives and cultural exchange.
Activities for the summit are expected to begin on May 28 with meetings involving senior officials, followed by foreign ministers’ discussions on May 29 before the main summit on May 31. Business forums, diplomatic engagements, music and cultural festivals are also expected to form part of the programme.
The envoy stated that India and Nigeria currently record between $8 billion and $9 billion in annual trade, though both countries believe there is room for greater economic cooperation. He added that Afrobeat music has gained strong popularity in India, with Nigerian stars like Wizkid and Davido enjoying growing recognition among Indian audiences.
Singh also highlighted India’s interest in expanding partnerships with Nigeria in ICT, digital infrastructure and education, describing India as a global leader in technology and innovation.
The High Commissioner further disclosed that India is seeking deeper collaboration with Nigeria’s textile and manufacturing sectors. Speaking during a Nigeria-India textile engagement event, he said Indian companies were willing to support Nigeria’s textile revival through investments, technology transfer, training and machinery supply.
According to him, Nigerian cotton-producing states such as Katsina State and Zamfara State could benefit from Indian investments in ginning, spinning and processing facilities.
He explained that India exported textiles worth $37.75 billion globally in 2024/2025 and currently supplies fabrics, garments, carpets and textile equipment to Nigeria. However, he noted that Indian textile products still face challenges in Nigeria due to import restrictions, forex shortages, high logistics costs and competition from cheaper Asian markets.
Singh added that India is also looking to strengthen ties with Nigeria’s fashion industry, which he valued at over $4.7 billion.
