CENTRAL Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk) officials will use their end-of-year party in December to kick-start the normal hectic social activity within the community with a mega event tagged Reuniting the Community After the Lockdown.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, the Nigerian community in the UK dominated the social scene, holding parities every weekend, booking halls where an array of event took place including weddings, birthdays, funerals, award ceremonies, etc. This in turn spurred the growth of an array of entertainment professionals like disc jockeys, masters of ceremonies, saxophonists, live band artists, decorators, event planners, etc.
However, once the pandemic struck in early 2020, the industry got hit hard as for about a year-and-a-half, there were no parties whatsoever, forcing many operators out of business. Hopingto draw a line under this dark period, Canuk is organising an end-of-the-year party at the Regency Banqueting Suite in Tottenham on December 17, which it hopes will revitalise the Nigerian social and entertainment industry.
Kicking off with a red carpet reception at 6pm, the event will involve a three course dinner, music, live entertainment raffle draw and plenty of dancing. Tickets are going for £50, and the array of guests will include the high commissioner Ambassador Sarafa Ishola, community leaders, local Members of Parliament, as well as dignitaries from Nigeria that will include governors, traditional rulers, legislators and captains of industry.
Doyin Owoeye, Canuk's social secretary, said: "For almost two years now, our community has been in a lockdown as a result of the pandemic. We are hoping that this event will reo-open the floodgates and get us back to where we were in 2019 when there were at least 10 Nigerian mega parties in London alone every Saturday.
"This event themed Reuniting the Community After the Lockdown is unique in that it brings everyone together including the high commission staff, the local community and dignitaries from Nigeria who will be led there by the chair of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Despite it being a mega event, we have kept prices at £50, with a discount for Canuk member associations to encourage everyone to come out on the day."
Canuk chairman, Ayo Akinfe added: "Apart from letting our hair down and enjoying ourselves, we will also be using the event as an occasion to welcome about a dozen new members into Canuk. on the night in question, we will hand out welcome certificates to several associations that have just joined us like the Nigerian Community in Essex, the Nigerian Community in South Wales, the Nigerian Community in Rochdale, Nigerian Community in Exeter and the Nigerian Community in Nottinghamshire.
"There will also be several high profile dignitaries visiting from Nigeria, so the dinner will serve as a perfect networking opportunity for people who have not been able to get out and about for a while. What makes this event unique is that our member associations from all different parts of the country will be booking tables and bringing their members to London for the day."
According to Chris Agbai, Canuk's second vice chairman, who has responsibility for all of its member associations, hopefully, this will become an annual event where new members are welcomed into the fold every year. He added that the success of this year's event should spur every type of Nigerian organisation in the UK, including state-based, regional, professional, old school alumni associations and cultural bodies to apply to join Canuk.
Princess Christian-Iwuagwu, the Canuk financial secretary urged everyone who wants to purchase tickets to do so by paying directly into the Canuk bank account. She added that they should do this pay making payments into the association's Lloyds Bank account with the sort code of 301553 and account number 00224400.
For more information contact:
Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin Mohammed Yiosese
Publicity Secretary Assistant Publicity Secretary
CANUK CANUK
07943 983317 07427 512739
PrincessDeun1@gmail.com yiosese.m@outlook.com
Note for editors
The Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom (CANUK) was formed by the Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom in 2005 in recognition of a clear need to unite the various Nigerian groups under one umbrella organisation. This ensures that the welfare, views, and community interests of Nigerians in the United Kingdom are represented in a harmonious and organised manner and creating a forum through which their voice could be heard.
