From L – R, Mahesh C. Sharma, Secretary General CAPSI,; Kunwar Vikram Singh: Chairman of CAPSI and APDI., Dr. Sylvester Okere and V V Katti
National President
From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Worried by high level of security challenges faced by investors in Nigeria, a Nigerian born American based security expert and Founding President of Strategic Groups USA LLC (parent company of Strategic Overseas Ltd.), Dr. Sylvester Okere, has called for a collaborative synergy between Nigeria and India in security affairs as a strategic means of addressing the nation’s insecurities menace.
Okere made this clarion call at the 19th Security Leadership Summit jointly organized by the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) and the Association of Professional Detectives & Investigators (APDI) held recently at PHD House, New Delhi, India.
The event which was attended by Industry leaders, Policy makers and Security experts was aimed at exploring advanced technologies for shaping the global security landscape under the theme “Surakashit Bharat – Viksit Bharat 2047”, and Key discussions focused on AI in security services, women safety, private investigations and collaboration between the private sector and the police.
Speaking during the, event, Okere, a Nigerian – American, said now is the best time for robust business and mutual engagements between Nigeria and India
“It’s really a great honor to be invited by this prestigious association CAPSI, to speak on INDIA-NIGERIA PARTNERSHIP in solving the security issues that plagued our community, Okere began in his speech at the event.
“ No reasonable investor wants to invest meaningfully to a place where his investment is not guaranteed security, Okere continued.
” Presently, there are more than 200 Indian companies operating in Nigeria with a combined investment valued at $27 billion while the population of Indian Nationals living in Nigeria is approximately 800 thousand.
“In most advanced democracies e.g. USA where I have lived for nearly 28 years, this population is a strong voting block to shape legislation for the community and I can’t wait to see my Nigerian-Indian brother/sisters running for political offices in Nigeria.
” With multiple companies and a large population of Indians residing in Nigeria, it is vital that a strong relationship between the two countries is sustained and one of the areas of focus to achieve this goal is security – ensuring a secure and sustainable environment within which Indian companies can thrive.
” There must be a deliberate effort to cultivate interpersonal relationships between Indian business owners and their Nigerian employees such that a fluid communication process becomes common with the work and business environment.
” India established a diplomatic mission in Nigeria in 1958 (2 years before Nigeria gained her independence). In the late 1970s and up till late 1980s, Indian nationals assimilated into various sectors of the Nigerian environment, especially in the education sector, where Indian teachers were prominent in local secondary schools and tertiary institutions, Okere continued.
” I want to commend Prime Minister Modi’s for his visit to Nigeria to meet with President Ahmed Tinubu on ways to strengthen our great relationships in business, trade and Investment. Permit me to say to our great leaders, “THERE CANNOT BE VIBRANT COMMERCE or TRADE WITHOUT SECURITY.
“ The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now”, he said.
During the event, the chairman of CAPSI, Mr. V. K. Sigh and Okere agreed to come up with a sustainable strategy for an alliance aimed at improving security in Nigeria as a nation .
The event which featured the presentation of an award of excellence to Okere by the officials of CAPSI was also attended by the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC), Lt. General MU Nair; DG of Police (Law & Order), Gujarat state, Dr. Shamsher Singh; President, Association of British Investigators (ABI), Mike LaCorte; Director, National Security Country Governance – India, Sh. Shailendra Vikram Singh; Director, Indian Institute of Public Administration, Prof. (Dr.) Surabhi Pandey and Special Commissioner of Police, Crime Division, Delhi Police, Sh. Devesh Chandra Srivastiva.
Other dignitaries present at the occasion were the Director of Binary Global, Major General Sanjay Sol; Minister of Tribal Affairs, Hon’ble Sh. Jual Oram; Former DG, Police, Punjab, Sh. V K Bihawara; Former DG, Mechanised Forces, Indian Army & Strike Corps Commander, Lt. General A B Shivane; Former Union Minister & Ex Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, Dr. Satya Pal Singh and a host of others.
It’s pertinent to recall that, Okere is a member of the World Association of Detectives (WAD), Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE), 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 other esteemed associations.
He is equally a certified Institutional Protection Manager (CIPM II) with a primary focus on industrial security, infrastructure, and trade facilitation as well as a former Nigeria Immigration officer with 18 years of Federal Service (Kano and Imo State combined).
