Canuk admits two community associations as Nigeria marks 61st birthday

NIGERIA'S diaspora community in the UK has used the occasion of the country's 61st independence anniversary to welcome two new associations as the Nigerian Community in Greenwich and the Nigerian Community in Surrey & Sussex joined its fold.

Established in 2005 as an umbrella organisation for all Nigerian associations in the UK, the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk) represents the entire community both before the UK government and the high commission in London. To represent the community effectively, Canuk needs to register as many bodies as possible to give it maximum reach.

To mark Nigeria's 61st anniversary, Canuk has approved the membership of these two associations, who will now enjoy the full benefits of membership. Canuk also used the opportunity to announce the fact that it will be throwing an end-of-the-year party on December 17 in London.

Chris Agbai, Canuk's second vice chairman, said: "When Canuk was founded, it was envisaged that there were about 200 different Nigerians organisations in the UK should come under its umbrella.  It is our aim as an executive committee to reach and surpass that number, so every Nigerian in the UK feels represented.

"These two associations have met the strict criteria laid down for membership and having done so are now welcome into the fold. It is particularly pleasing to reach out to regional organisations, as we end up touching Nigerians who were hitherto unrepresented, so going forward, we will be doing a lot more of this, as well as recruiting, professional, state-based and cultural associations."

Doyin Owoeye, Canuk's social secretary added: "Reaching 61 is a major landmark and as we mature as a community in the UK, our influence will continue to grow. It is thus only right that the community should feel the impact of Canuk, which is why in December, we shall be organising a big end-of-the-year party for all Nigerians in the UK.

"Taking place at the Regency Banqueting Suite in Tottenham in December 17, the event will be a gala dinner with a three course meal, entertainment and plenty of dancing. Our high commissioner, His Excellency Ambassador Sarafa Ishola, will be the guest of honour on the night and we will also use the occasion to hand out membership certificates to some other new members.

Titilola Danso, Canuk's general secretary, added that this will be the first independence day celebrations since the end of the Covid-19 lockdown in the UK, so the executive Committee is pleased that membership is growing despite the recent challenges. She used the occasion to wish all Nigerians in the UK a happy October 1, pointing out that Canuk is marking it with a special independence day seminar.

Titled Guaranteeing the Security of Diaspora Investments in Nigeria, the seminar which kicks off at 5pm, will be moderated by Canuk's publicity secretary Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin. Speakers include the chair of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Ambassador Cyprian Heen, the head of industry trade and investment at the high commission; Chief Bimbo Afolayan the chief executive of the Nigerian Direct Diaspora Investment Summit; Jermaine Sanwoolu, the special; adviser to the Lagos State governor on diaspora affairs and investment analyst Tunde Fasoyiro.