Nigerian Manitobans celebrate first flag raising at legislature for independence day

Nigerian Manitobans are celebrating a milestoneand 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 Dayat 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'sInformation 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 Dayreceived assent in the Manitoba Legislature. The bill was introduced byHealth Minister Uzoma Asagwara, whose parents are from Nigeria.

Theflag raising took place at 8:30 a.m., with agathering at the legislative building following at11:30 to celebrate with elders of the Nigerian community.

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

The event will be a vibrant showcase ofNigerianculture, featuring traditional music, danceand cuisine, saysa news release from theNigerianAssociation 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 toNigerian students, ranging from high schoolers to those in university and post-graduate studies.

Education is extremely important in the community,Obehi Keyedesaid.

"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 thereas part of it, they are excelling, contributing and making a meaningful impact in every facet of the global stage."