Nigerian Manitobans celebrate first flag raising at legislature for independence day

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Peggy

Nigerian Manitobans are celebrating a milestone and planning a party.

Tuesday is the 64th anniversary of Nigerian independence from British colonial rule, and for the first time, the West African country’s flag will be raised for Celebration of Nigerian Independence Day at the Manitoba Legislative Building.

“I am just overwhelmed with excitement and with the sense of fulfilment,” Vera Obehi Keyede, president of the Nigerian Association of Manitoba, said about the flag being raised.

“[It] reminds me of the victory the founding leaders of Nigeria started 64 years ago. Nigerian independence is a story of resilience,” she told CBC Manitoba’s Information Radio host Marcy Markusa.

“We are very hard-working people … and everywhere we go, we don’t just stay there — we contribute, we make impacts. That [flag raising is] reminding us as a people that we will continue to make impacts and we will not relent in contributing our quarter to the province and to the city of Winnipeg.”

In June, a bill proclaiming Oct. 1 of each year as Celebration of Nigerian Independence Day received assent in the Manitoba Legislature. The bill was introduced by Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara, whose parents are from Nigeria.

The flag raising took place at 8:30 a.m., with a gathering at the legislative building following at 11:30 to celebrate with elders of the Nigerian community.

The grand celebration, though, is slated for Oct. 5 at Alloway Hall in the Manitoba Museum.

The event will be a vibrant showcase of Nigerian culture, featuring traditional music, dance and cuisine, says a news release from the Nigerian Association of Manitoba.

“Everybody’s going to come out in their best attire,” and the wider Manitoba community is invited to join in the celebration, Obehi Keyede said.

“You can get tickets on Eventbrite. We want to see everybody come to know who we are,” she said. “Come, just celebrate. It’s going to be loud. We are actually loud people.”

Seven scholarships will also be presented to Nigerian students, ranging from high schoolers to those in university and post-graduate studies.

Education is extremely important in the community, Obehi Keyede said.

“We are people that continuously want to learn. There’s so much to learn, and that is why in every field of study across the globe, you will find Nigerians excelling,” she said.

“They’re not just there as part of it, they are excelling, contributing and making a meaningful impact in every facet of the global stage.”