Nigerian Union in Stockholm marks 30th anniversary

The Nigerian Union in Stockholm celebrated its 30th anniversary over the weekend at a colourful ceremony at Folkets Hus, Rinkeby. Most of the Nigerians turned up looking very resplendent in their gorgeous traditional dresses which later on served as a fashion parade of the costumes of the various regions of this vast nation. The ceremony started with the singing of the national anthem by the children of the union, none of whom was born when the union started in 1976 as a gathering of Nigerian students in Stockholm. The Nigerian ambassador to Sweden and the Nordic countries, Mrs Funmilayo Adebo-Kiencke, was present and gave a speech urging her fellow citizens to be proud of their nation and to coexist in harmony with each other. She cut the anniversary cake which was specially made in the national colours of green, white, and green. Our own Joe Frans was a guest of honour. He spoke about the brain drain from Africa and argued that this brain drain could be turned into a brain gain for Africa. He drew warm applause when he traced the major happenings in Nigeria and Sweden for each of the decade years the union has been in existence. (Read the entire speech here)

		There was a performance by the union's cultural troupe which played traditional Yoruba dances. Some members of the audience could not help themselves but jump on to the stage to dance with the performers. The fashion show was superb as each 'model' was presented to the background of music from the area of Nigeria he or she was coming from. Everybody who was in a traditional dress did the cat walk proudly as the dress was presented. That Nigeria, arguably, can boast of the best and most varied collection of traditional dresses in Africa, was in ample evidence. There was a lot of traditional Nigerian food too: eba, amala, ogbono, semovita, moin-moin, pounded yam and egusi soup, pepper soup, etc, to go with Guinness and Star beers from Nigeria. The vast array of food items could have also made a great food fair. The food was sold at very affordable prices. The music was great, a mixture of the different tunes from the country, and the dancing went on and on to the proverbial 'wee hours' of the morning. Really a night to remember.
The Nigerian ambassador Mrs Adebo-Kiencke cuts the anniversary cake

The function was attended by many non-Nigerians especially from the other African countries as well as many Swedes. There was a large contingent of members of the Ghana Union led by the president, Micah Kissi, who was placed at one of the high tables.

The Ghana Union in Stockholm wishes the Nigerian Union the very best on the occasion of its anniversary and hopes that the cordial relationship that has existed between the two organisations will continue into the very distant future.

Just a few of the intricately made headgears worn by the Nigerian women

The cultural troupe in a performance		The men were in no way outdone by the women