A Special Thank You Message from Chris Chukwuma, President, Nigerian Canadian Association of Edmonton.
Nigerian Canadians showed up big time!
They volunteered in large numbers all through the three days of the 2025 Edmonton Heritage Festival. It was almost like everyone with Nigerian roots within Edmonton and environs was prepared to serve and make our community proud. Big names like Baba Adekola, Baba Bankole, Rev. Dr. Odimuko, and Prof. Phil Ihejirika, Dr. Collins Ugochukwu, and so many others showed up big time. Hundreds of others wore t-shirts and aprons and got their hands dirty to serve Canadians who formed very long lines in front of the Nigerian pavilion.
Young adults, teenagers, and children joined the adults in dancing and having fun on the stage. It was a carnival inside a festival. All roads seemed to lead to the Nigerian pavilion. We were proud. We were excited and we were very satisfied. Kudos to the people of Nigerian heritage. Please take a look at the pictures and videos that have been uploaded on all our social media platforms. They show so much.
Special thanks to all the young people (teenagers and young adults) who worked on the sales and service counters, on the grills, and on the cutting tables. The ones who picked trash, carried loads, and helped wherever they were needed. A big thank you to all the lovely ladies who adorned aprons and got their hands dirty to ensure that the NCAE succeeded in the festival.
The men were determined and relentless in doing what was required to ensure that good quality food was served to our customers. Bravo men! The customers themselves were dedicated, patient and delightful. What can I say? That’s the spirit of our community.
Special thanks must go to Ms Pelumi Oyegbami, former Social Director, who stayed back from the last exco to anchor this year’s heritage. Her dedication has been exceptional and unmatched. We are grateful.
Please let’s not limit the interest and dedication we just saw to the heritage festival. Let us please take it to meetings, Nigeria’s heritage month activities and programs, as well as other aspects of the association’s endeavors, till we build an association that we would all be proud to call our base.
With all of these, however, I am just saying THANK YOU so much Nigerian Canadians.
