20 September to 4 October 2014
October 1, 1960 was a memorable day, as the new Federal Republic of Nigeria formally attained its independence from colonial Great Britain. Nigeria’s 54th Independence anniversary celebrations in Ottawa were marked with music, food, fun and laughter through an array of events, including a soccer game between students and professionals; a multi-lingual church service in the major ethnic languages; a seminar on the Yoruba language and culture; raising the Nigerian national flag at City Hall, and a movie premiere of a Canada-made Nollywood movie, Treacherous Hearts. On Wednesday 1 October, the Nigeria High Commission hosted diplomats from various countries, Canadian government and political leaders and members of the Nigerian community and friends of Nigeria at a reception at the famed Cahateau Laurier. The Nigerian community in Ottawa was in festive mood on Saturday 4 October as they joined with friends and families at a gala at Tudor Hall, on Bowmansville Road. The men, women and children, as is customary on such occaiosns, were dressed in the best of Nigerian sartorial elegance. High Commissioner Chief Ojo Maduekwe was the guest of honour. Psychiatrist Dr. AG Ahmed of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre provided the keynote presentation on the life and times of Afro-rock legend, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
