Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given Namibia’s highest civilian award during his one-day state visit to the African nation on Wednesday. The award, called ‘The Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’, was presented by Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. This honour shows the strong and growing relationship between India and Namibia.
Modi Receives Top Honour in Namibia
During his visit to Namibia on Wednesday, PM Modi was honoured with the country’s top civilian award – The Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis. The ceremony took place in the capital and was led by Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. The award is named after a rare desert plant found only in Namibia, which stands for strength, long life, and resilience.
Modi is the first Indian leader to receive this special award. In his acceptance speech, he said, “I accept this honour with deep gratitude and dedicate it to the 1.4 billion people of India and the strong friendship between India and Namibia.”
Meaning and History of the Award
The Welwitschia Mirabilis Award was started in 1995. It is given to people who show great leadership and work to build strong ties between nations. The plant it is named after survives in the desert for many years, which is why it is used as a symbol of endurance and unity.
This is PM Modi’s 27th international award and the fourth during his current five-nation trip. Interestingly, it is also his second award within 24 hours, showing the global appreciation he is receiving on this tour.
A New Chapter in India-Namibia Relations
This honour marks a new milestone in the bond between India and Namibia. India and Namibia have worked together in areas like education, healthcare, defence, and technology. The award is a symbol of Namibia’s respect for India’s support and its interest in building even stronger ties in the future.
With this honour, both countries are expected to deepen their cooperation further in the coming months, especially in trade, green energy, and digital innovation.