BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NATIONALS of Nigeria attending the Windsor University School of Medicine on Tuesday (Oct. 1) celebrated their country’s 53rd Independence Anniversary with a Dinner at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel in Frigate Bay.
The event, which was organised by the Nigerian Student Association (NSA) of the university, was the second of its kind to be held in St. Kitts and had seen the students celebrating the occasion with entertainment through songs, dances, a cultural show and an Awards Ceremony as well as with the eating of delectable African dishes.
A video presentation on Nigeria's history highlighting events before and after that nation's Independence was also on the agenda.
Awards were presented to winners who were pre-voted from a field of nominees in various categories: Best Student Fatai Oluyadi, Most Popular Male Justice Okeugo, Most Popular Female Jessica Akpabio, Most Influential Mubarack Suleiman, Mr. Sophisticated Cherechi Ibe, Miss Sophisticated Stephanie Etebu and Face of NSA Sylvia Anagwu.
An Appreciation Award was presented to the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, by the NSA’s General Secretary Uju Nwauwa.
The inauguration of the new Executive body of the NSA was also announced, with Oto-obong Akpan being elected President, Chomern Okeugo as Vice President, Chuka Okwu as
General Secretary, Chris Ntewo as the Director of Social and Gregory Okenabirhie as the Public Relations Officer.
Additionally, a one-minute silence was observed for the late Nigerian national and Windsor University student, 19-year-old Osaro Ikponmwosa, who lost his life following a traffic accident in February.
The President of the Nigerian Association in St. Kitts-Nevis, Dr. Bassey Udo, spoke highly about the “determination of our foreparents”; some of whom were mentioned by name.
He admonished his fellow Nigerians to be inspired by the sacrifice of such nation builders, saying, “These were men, as we would refer to them in Nigeria, of timber and calibre, in whose shadows we stand. Let us all as Nigerians live lives that are worthy of their sacrifice.”
Udo also gave some geographical and historical background on his country of birth, which is the most populated on the African continent.
“Nigeria, the Giant of Africa, is the most populous country in Africa and seventh most populous country in the world, with an area approximately 356, 000 square miles and a population in access of 170 million. There is no country on earth that has not been touched by Nigerians in one way or the other.”
He continued: “Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups with varying languages and customs. This makes for one of the richest ethnic diversity of any other country in the world. Most of the major ethnicities are represented in the almost 400 Nigerian residents in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Furthermore, the NSA President thanked PM Douglas and the people of the Federation for the warm hospitality extended to them.
“We thank the Prime Minister in particular and his government and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis for the warm hospitality that is extended to all Nigerians during our sojourn here in your beautiful and peaceful Federation. We hope that our presence as Nigerians here in St. Kitts and Nevis will further enrich your socio-cultural and economic landscape.”
Prime Minister Douglas, during his remarks, touched on the deep sense of pride he has as a black man pointing to his African ancestral heritage.
“I have always felt extremely proud as a black man and sometimes I wonder why. But looking at the film a moment ago, there was a very deep sense of pride, a deep sense of appreciation looking at the struggles that your people have been through and knowing where you are today...one of the most wealthiest and powerful nations on earth. I feel very comfortable in knowing that I have come from some place in Nigeria many years ago when my ancestors would have come to this place.”
Dr. Douglas shared sentiments that he expressed to the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, while at a recent United Nation meeting held in New York, US.
“I had the fortune only a few days ago in New York at the United Nations to exchange greeting with your distinguished President, and told him that I was very pleased that he had sent one of his Governors here in St. Kitts and Nevis, Godswill Akpobio, to witness our own celebration of Independence though only 30 years as a politically independent and free nation. The relationship between Nigeria and St. Kitts and Nevis has long been in establishment.”
PM Douglas spoke about his third visit to Nigeria last year, which he said gave him the opportunity to understand and appreciate the ancestral link with the Federation.
“I recall my own visit to Nigeria just last year in November. That being the third visit but which gave me the opportunity to really understand and appreciate to a further extent, the common ancestry between St. Kitts and Nevis and its peoples and your country. We have pledged to work much more closely with each other to expand the friendship that we have, to explore the opportunities that Nigerians may have here in St. Kitts and Nevis and the opportunities that Kittitians and Nevisians may have in Nigeria as well.”
He added: “I believe that there is much we can learn from each other, there is much that we can develop culturally with each other and I believe, therefore, that the time has come for us to move beyond the relationship that has been established as a result of St. Kitts-Nevis providing offshore educational service to you and your people. But we need to ensure that there are investment opportunities that can be explored between investors in Nigeria and the business people here in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
MCs for the event were Kola Osanoto and Chukwuma Egeruka, who both kept the audience amused with their witty chat and humourous interaction with them.
This media house learnt that in observance of Nigeria’s 51st Independence Anniversary, a Dance Party was held at the Sugar Bay Complex in Frigate Bay in 2011.
