Canuk to organise community reach out programme on July 7 and visit to Oxfordshire this weekend

UMBRELLA diaspora body the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk) plans to organise a get-together with the local community at the high commission on July 7 as part of its ongoing reach-out programme.

At Canuk's annual general meeting (AGM) in London on May 27, delegates elected a new executive committee chaired by engineer Dr Boma Douglas to serve for a two-year term. Already the new executive committee has hit the ground running, drawing up a series of plans for its tenure in office and earlier this month, the team visited the high commission to intimate it with their plans.

About two weeks ago, the executive committee visited Grenfell Towers to empathise with the victims of the fire there and now it is planning to reach out further to the Nigerian community in the UK. Titled Community Connect, the meeting at the high commission will be a cocktail event during which members of the diaspora can interact with the high commission staff.

Canuk social secretary Jana Shodiya, said: "The aim of this event, which will be the first of many to come, is to facilitate sociable interactions and connections between the new Canuk executives and its member organisations, the Nigerian High Commission and key stakeholders in the wider Nigerian community in the UK. It promises to be a great time of fun, relaxation, networking and sharing of ideas.

"This will help to move the community forward, encourage community cohesion and build stronger connections. We look forward to welcoming the community at Nigeria House on Northumberland Avenue in London at 5.30pm."

In addition, Canuk will also be supporting a carnival in Oxfordshire this weekend as part of its plans to reach out to Nigerians living in the regions. On Sunday July 2, a team of Canuk executives will be supporting the Nigerian Community Oxfordshire (Nicoox) at this year's Cowley Road Carnival.

Dr Douglas said: "Our regional team and executives lead by our second vice chairman Malcolm Benson will be there in person showing our solid commitment to Nigerian communities all around the UK not just in London. We look forward to meeting the Nicoox executives lead by Alhaji Taofik Shodunke and the entire Nigerian community in the beautiful city of Oxford."

Canuk secretary Jumoke Ariyo added that the visit to Oxfordshire is part of a wider programme to reach out to all Nigerians living across the UK. As part of this drive Canuk's visit to Grenfell Towers was held in collaboration with other community associations including the National Association of Nigerian Communities in the UK and the Ika Union UK.