Echoes of Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary Celebration in Manitoba

Walking into the warm, cozy ambience of the Alloway Hall of the Manitoba Museum at 190 Ruppert Avenue, Winnipeg in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, that epochal October 5, 2024, date, was soul-stirring. The warmth it offered provided a haven from the drizzling rain and inclement weather outside. All at once, the convivial atmosphere evoked pleasant nostalgic feeling of home as Nigerians of all tribes and ethnic nationalities, many elegantly dressed in their different traditional attires, some in the symbolic green and white colour of the Nigerian flag, converged to celebrate their shared nationality, the country’s 64th anniversary as a sovereign nation.

It was not the first time such an event would be taking place in the Province of Manitoba. For decades, Nigerians in the province had commemorated their country’s Independence Day every October 1 as a show of loyalty and patriotism to their fatherland. Indeed, an occasion such as this is for them a rallying point and opportunity to take time off their busy work schedules to socialise and savour the feeling of being at home abroad. But this year’s was special.

Nigerians in Manitoba were celebrating an uncommon milestone, and it was the reason they rolled out the drums and sounded the trumpet so loud that the echoes reverberated back home and all over the world. It was the first Independence Day anniversary since the passing in June this year of Bill 22, The Celebration of Nigerian Independence Day Act. This Act, an amendment to the Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act, proclaims October 1st each year as a Celebration of Nigerian Independence Day, the first of its kind in Canada.

Little wonder therefore that in the hall were not just Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, but virtually all the functionaries of government of Manitoba and the Legislative Assembly led by Nigerian-born Deputy Premier of the Province, Honourable Uzoma Asagwara, who made the historic celebration possible as sponsor of the Bill. The Premier of Manitoba, The Honourable Wab Kinew, who was unavoidably absent, was ably represented and extended his goodwill to the Nigerian community.

The October 5 event marked the grand finale of events that started on October 1 at the Manitoba Legislature where the Nigerian flag was, for the first time, raised in celebration. It was a momentous occasion witnessed by the Head of Chancery at the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, Tandu Ahmed, executives and members of the Nigerian Association of Manitoba Incorporated, (NAMI) and elders of the Nigerian community, including parents of the sponsor of the Bill.

A visibly fulfilled Asagwara said “My hope is that by us being here today and reaffirming and celebrating Independence Day, that we work together as all Manitobans from all communities to make a good path for generations to come”. Ahmed, in his speech, said “Events like today’s flag-raising, show the significance of our connection with the province of Manitoba”, a sentiment shared by Vera Keyede, President of NAMI, who enthused, “This flag-raising ceremony is a powerful symbol of our journey as Nigerians in Manitoba. We’re deeply honoured by the support of the Manitoba government in recognising our cultural heritage.

“We are free people, and we are not forgetting our history; we are not forgetting the bravery, the resilience, the unwavering dedication that brought us this far. For us, it’s a day of truth; it’s a Day of Reconciliation”.

Further reinforcing the symbolism of the event, social secretary of NAMI, Abiodun Adetu, in a press release thereafter, said “This flag-raising is not just for us, it’s for our children and the generations to come. It signifies that our culture and heritage are valued and that we have a home in Manitoba where we can continue to thrive while staying connected to our Nigerian roots”.

Trust Nigerians: no matter where they find themselves, they ingeniously recreate an aura of home away from home. That was exactly what the October 5 grand reception was all about with all the thrills, spills and razzmatazz of the Nigerian “owanbe” party. Local cuisines like amala, ewedu and gbegiri with orishirishi (assorted meat) served in native pots, ofada rice and designer stew, pounded yam with vegetable and okra soup; and of course, jollof rice and fried rice.

Other attractions were a fashion parade by some guests selected from the floor by the ‘fashion police’, and cultural displays by the Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, with the Igbo masquerade dance stealing the show, thrilling guests with exciting displays.

The fashion parade was spiced up with different genre of music by great maestros like King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obe, Lagbaja, Rema, Spyro, Fatai Rolling Dollar, and Kwam 1.

Chairperson of NAMI Independence Anniversary Planning Committee, Mrs. Florence Okwudili, set the tone for the evening in her welcome address, describing the event as “unique”.

Underscoring the import of the celebration, and giving credit to whom it was due, she said “The Province of Manitoba made a proclamation officially recognising October 1st as Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration. Thank you so much to our very own Honourable Uzoma Asagwara, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care and the present government cabinet for making this happen. We are highly proud of you and your achievements, and we have every cause to be happy and to celebrate”.

Okwudili appreciated fellow Nigerians who took out time to attend the event and rallying round their country. According to her, “Your coming out today is a show of love for our country. We all love what we do. We will keep hoping that things will improve in our country back home. Thank you for being proud Nigerians in the midst of all these”.

The Premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew, in his goodwill message, threw his audience into a state of euphoria with a most exhilarating news of the prospect of direct flights from both Canada and Nigeria. Kinew announced that the process was on to achieve this “to make travel between our two countries easier and more accessible”.

Apologising profusely for not being able to come in person as he had wished, Kinew said “I am committed to advocating for you, whether it’s on immigration matters or other concerns that affect the community. Now, this next part I know, is really important to the Nigerian community … I’m also proud to share with you that I’m working hard to make progress on securing direct flights from Canada to Nigeria. That’s very important”.

The Premier said, “While it’s taking some time, I believe, with persistence and hard work, we can make this a reality”.

Noting that as the second highest population of Nigerians in the Diaspora in Canada, with high hopes that they would be number one soon, the Premier said “You’re growing in presence. You are a valuable part… The Nigerian community is growing by leaps and bounds, and with that growth comes enormous contributions to our local economy, culture and society. Many of you have come to Canada, seeking new opportunities, and we are so fortunate to have you here. Your dedication, hard work, and vibrant spirit has enriched Manitoba”.

Congratulating Nigerians, The Honourable Kinew said, “Today, we not only commemorate the birth of a proud and resilient nation, but we also take a moment to honor the lives of those who made this freedom possible. Brave freedom fighters, and countless others sacrificed so much to secure the independence, which the country of Nigeria is proudly celebrating today. You must always remember and cherish the legacy”.

Kinew said he was humbled “to be able to support Minister Asagwara as they passed The Celebration of Nigerian Independence Act earlier this year, officially marking October 1as Celebration of Nigerian Independence Day”, adding, “With this bill, our government recognises the significance of this date for the Nigerian community in Manitoba and across the world, and we join you in celebration”

Though thrilled by the prospect of direct flights to Nigeria, nothing would gladden the heart of Asagwara more than becoming a reality. The deputy premier said “the next time we get an update, it can’t be working on direct flights. It needs to be, there are direct flights to Nigeria”.

On the reason for the celebration, Asagwara took the audience through efforts and sacrifices that culminated in the historic Proclamation.

According to Minister Asagwara, “the celebration of Nigerian Independence Day Act became law in Manitoba on June 4th at 12. 42 a.m. We were working until the middle of the night at the management of the legislature to pass laws and this was a Bill. It was a Bill that we needed to pass. And so, I was in communication with many people in our community, updating them into the wee hours of the morning. We thought that the Bill would get passed actually maybe around 7 or 8 pm, and people can be there, but by about 11 p.m, I said go to bed. But some people stayed awake, and I’ll keep them up to date. Yes. And nobody went to bed; everyone stayed awake.

“But this this week, Honorable Minister Glenn Simard, who is the minister of Sports, Culture and Heritage, in addition to the law being passed which is the first of its kind, not only in Canada, but in North America, he also provided an official government Proclamation for Nigerian Independence Day, and he provided that to the community on October 1st. And so, this is the Proclamation, (proudly brandishing it) and we are going to present it to associations and groups who worked so hard across our Province to bring our communities together and to champion our community…

“It represents our government’s commitment to always recognise and stand with and affirm and support and partner with the strong and growing Nigerian community of Manitoba that has been here for decades. So, I’m happy to present this to all of our wonderful leaders in this group”.

In her message, Keyede, NAMI President, who spoke to the theme of the celebration, “Our History, Our Beauty” noted that “History is not just the collection of date and events. It is the essence of who we are. Our history as Nigerians speak of richness of our diversity, and our diversity is not a challenge but a source of immense beauty and strength”.

She said, “Today, as we live in Manitoba, Canada, we carry with us the echoes of that struggle, the hope of a bright future. Our history, with all its triumphs and trials, is a source of pride and a beacon guiding us towards continuous growth and unity”.

According to Keyede, despite the country’s challenges, “we have continually demonstrated an unwavering spirit in all facets of life, making significant contributions on every global stage”.

She said “To honour our history, we must continue to confront our challenges with courage and optimism, knowing that every nation has its trials, and ours is no exception. We should work together to find opportunities for growth, even in the face of our current difficulties as a nation. Let us embrace our past and work together to overcome the obstacles hindering us as a nation so we can build a future that reflects the best of who we are, a people of integrity, people of strong values”.

To her fellow Nigerian Manitobans, Keyede called their attention to the need to stand together and united “in building a strong Nigerian community in Manitoba”.

Delivering a keynote address on the theme of the celebration “Our History, Our Beauty”, Titi Tijani, one of the most respected community leaders and dogged activist with an impressive record of accomplishments spanning over 25 years in social services and Community Development, said “Again, today, marks the historic achievements and accomplishments by Nigerians in the Diaspora and the fact that even as highly travelled as Nigerians are, Nigerians are still deeply rooted and highly connected to their motherland. So, while contributing to the growth of our new communities, we never forget our roots. “Little wonder that Nigerians in the Diaspora continue to support their people back home with remittances. Nigerians in the Diaspora contribute a significant proportion to the country’s GDP. It is estimated by the World Bank that Nigerians in the Diaspora remitted over 20 billion dollars in 2023 to people at home”.

Tijani, who had lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for over 36 years and holds a bachelor’s degree in human ecology from the University of Manitoba with other qualifications in education, community leadership and conflict resolution, said “It is evident that in as much as we love our adopted home, we also love our home. We are proud of who we are as a people, and we will always be proud as Nigerians. We are resilient people, enterprising, and resourceful. We are boisterous but good-natured people, colourful and happy people”.

In her special message, Asagwara, in all humility, refused to take sole responsibility for the Nigerian Independence Day Legislation, saying that “It was not something that I did; it is something that we did. It is something that elders in our communities paved the way for decades ago”. The Deputy Premier said though the first Nigerian elected in Manitoba into the government, “That does not mean I should have been the first. It doesn’t mean I’m the smartest. … But there are many, many people here in our community who have been more than capable to lead in these roles, and systemic barriers were in the way. And they focused on breaking down those barriers so that people like me might one day have the opportunity to work with our community and make sure that here in Manitoba, Nigerians are celebrated by way of law. That, to me, is a testament to the strength of our community.

“And so, on this day, this night, as we celebrate Nigeria’s Independence, I’m very proud to be part of a government that celebrates with our community 365 days of the year. We look forward to continuing to celebrate and work with the Nigerian community to advance the economic, social, the spiritual, the educational fabric of Manitoba.

Some of the exciting moments at the event were the presentation of copies of the Proclamation to the various ethnic nationalities and groups by Asagwara, and a special dance by members of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and officials of government led by the deputy premier, who thrilled the audience as they danced to ‘Calm Down’, one of the popular songs of Nigeria’s music sensation, Rema (Divine Ikubor).

“We have put Manitoba for Nigerians on the map; we have put Manitoba on the map in terms of what Naijas are doing here for everyone. We put them on notice across Canada, we put them on notice across North America, and I look forward to the next Nigerian Independence Day, us coming back and celebrating all of the additional steps we’ve taken throughout the year together”.

Major highlights of the special 64th Independence Day celebration were the special recognition of a towering personality in the province, Mrs. Rachel Alao, an evangelist, who is the only Nigerian that had been honoured with the title of the Order of Manitoba, (OM) since its inception in 1999; award of scholarships to deserving students by NAMI, and cutting of the anniversary cake.

Evangelist Alao, 74, who led the cutting of the anniversary cake joined by other elders, is the Founder, Director, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Helping Hands Resource Centre for Immigrants, an organisation that caters for the needs of newcomers and refugees.

Mrs. Alao, who has lived in Winnipeg for 40 years, was top on the list of “12 inspiring leaders” inducted into the Order of Manitoba, the province’s highest honour, on July 9, 2015, for her accomplishments in helping countless newcomers to Canada maximize their potential in a new country.