Nigerian community in Oxfordshire and Canuk participate in Cowley Road Festival

HUNDREDS of Nigerians in the Oxfordshire area took to the streets yesterday to celebrate the Cowley Road Festival in conjunction with the diaspora umbrella body the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk).

 

Organised by the Nigerian Community Oxfordshire (Nicoox), the event was characterised with artistic displays, entertainment and the serving of Nigerian cuisine. It was a day of fun games, dance and food during which the Canuk team was part of a mile long procession that livened up the carnival.

 

Canuk's executive committee was represented by the first vice chairman Ronke Udofia and its second vice chairman Malcolm Benson, who both participated in the dancing to several melodious Nigerian tunes. At the end of the procession, they joined local diasporans in retiring to the Nigerian stand adorned in green that was clearly distinct and one of the most visible at the carnival.

 

Nigerian revellers at the carnival adorned green T-shirts at an event that was characterised with a lot of Nigerian music, jollof rice and dancing. Also in attendance was Olayomi Koiki of Canuk's publicity team who took photographs and recorded the event for the online platform 9jadiaspora.

 

Mrs Udofia said: "Cowley Road Carnival that brings together the many different people in and around Oxford, with a sense of community and connectivity, to celebrate their diversity.  Nigerians from Derby and Birmingham were in attendance too and it was a brilliant day."

Mr Benson added: "Nicoox, led by Alhaji Taofik Shodunke have all done a great job building bridges in the community and facilitating activities that promote cohesion and address societal concerns in the community. Canuk is glad to have been there to support one of our member organisations as we continue to make good on promise to bring about regional integration."

 

Since assuming office on May 27, the new Canuk executive committee has made reaching out to the regions and Nigerian associations nationwide one of its main priorities. It intends building on this process this Friday July 7, when it invites Nigerian associations nationwide to attend a community cocktail get-together at the high commission in London starting at 5.30pm.

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