In honour of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day, the U of M Nigerian Students Association (UMNISA) organized a five-day event featuring activities celebrating Nigerian culture.
The week’s celebration, Naija on Campus, began on Sept. 28 with a display of traditional clothing called “Traditional Fusion.”
Joshua Okoye, UMNISA president, said “[the event] was positioned for the Nigerian students on campus to have fun with their fellow students and also be able to connect with the larger Nigerian students community.”
The celebration featured Nigerian music, cultural clothing, snacks, dance and sports. Nigerian vendors also displayed food, clothing and other products.
Balancing the event schedule with academic commitments presented challenges, Okoye shared.
Despite the hurdles, Okoye said the association’s executive and events teams collaborated to plan the week, with members sharing ideas, assigning responsibilities and coordinating activities.
The association also connected with Nigerian businesses in Winnipeg through vendor participation. Okoye said these connections supported UMNISA’s efforts to promote Nigerian culture and “helped make the celebration more engaging.”
He said seeing attendees engage with Nigerian music, food, fashion and sports was among the most memorable aspects of the celebration.
“An event like Naija on Campus helps bring people together, create friendships and build connections between students from different backgrounds,” Okoye expressed.
UMNISA plans to continue organizing cultural and social activities, and initiatives focused on networking, advocacy and student support.
“We hope that students and attendees were able to know that even if we are far from home, there’s also a home here,” Okoye said. “There’s always a community at the U of M that cares about the Nigerian students, their advocacy and their well-being.”
The final lap of the event was crowned with an Afropegga Night Out, which featured DJ ALTAY at Savana.
Nigeria gained its independence on Oct. 1, 1960 after nearly a century of British colonial influence and rule. In 1963, it became a federal republic, ending its constitutional relationship with the British monarchy.
For more updates about UMNISA’s future events, students can follow their Instagram page @_umnisa.
