…As Indian PM Visits Nigeria
From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Dr. Sylvester Okere, a Nigerian born American security expert is among the global private security czars that have been selected to attend the two days world private securities leadership summit commencing this Thursday 21st to Friday 22nd November, 2024 been hosted by the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI), India.
It’s significant to note that, Okere’s invitation by CAPSI for the 19th Security Leadership Summit 2024 in New Delhi is coincidentally coming at a time when the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi arrived in Nigeria for a State visit.
During the summit, Okere will speak on “India-Nigerian Partnership in securing people and assets,” as well as other critical security issues affecting both countries.
Recall that CAPSI, which is the umbrella organization of the Indian private security industry, has ties with some of the leading global security education organizations like the World Association of Detectives (WAD), International Federation of Protection Officers (IFPO), the Association of Investigation & Security Agencies Regulators (USA) and the Security Institute of UK for training and placement of the trained youth in foreign countries.
CAPSI also represents the wider interests of 10 million guardsmen & women as well as 35 thousand private security agencies operating pan India. Its governing processes are being guided by an eminent Board of Governors having former Army Generals, Veteran Police and Para-Military officers, high ranking Intelligence Professionals from Central Bureau of Investigation and premier governmental intelligence agencies and renowned Risk Managers.
It’s pertinent to also note that the visit to Nigeria by the Indian Prime Minister will pave way for high-level discussions between the two Presidents, focusing on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, energy, and education, according to a recent statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Modi who arrived Nigeria last Saturday is expected to meet with President Bola Tinibu this Sunday 17th November, 2024. This would be the first visit by an Indian PM to Nigeria in 17 years.
It’s equally important to inform that India, with a population of more than 1.4 billion is the largest democracy in the world while Nigeria with more than 220 million people is the largest in Africa.
India opened its Diplomatic House in Lagos in November 1958, two years before Nigeria became independent. From 1960s to the 80s, doctors from India played a crucial role during the formative years of Nigeria as a nation. This extended to defence training as well, through the establishment of National Defence Academy, Kaduna and Naval War College, Port Harcourt by Indian military officers.
Okere is a former Nigeria Immigration officer with 18 years of federal service (Kano and Imo state combined), hails from Obibi Ezena, in Owerri-North Local Government Area of Imo state.
He is the Founding President of Strategic Groups USA LLC, a private security firm and an approved vendor with the United Nations.
In November 2023, Okere bagged the prestigious Vinson Holmes Security Professional of the Year Award – from World Association of detectives (W.A.D.) and in December 2023, he was appointed to lead the Civil Society Organization on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative (CSCHEI) as the Director, Diaspora (North America and South America).
The security led the AGOA International Trade and Commerce Fact Finding Workshop in New York, an initiative that brought some leaders from Africa to participate, along with US lawmakers, the UN, Civil Societies, NGOs, and heads of government agencies to discuss critical issues surrounding AGOA in February 2013.
He mobilized the African Diaspora for The White House Policy Briefing of February 22, 2016 and championed the USAID’s Global Innovation Exchange program for Africa.
Okere is a member of Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE) and a member of other professional bodies, including the National Council of Investigators & Security Services (NCISS), Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), American Security Foundation, American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), Public Record Retriever Network (PRRN), Maryland Investigators and Security Association (MISA), and others.
He is a certified institutional protection manager (CIPM II) with a primary focus on industrial security, infrastructure, and trade facilitation.
