UK joins Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration with flag hoisting, rallies

The Nigerian green-white-green flag will be hoisted in at least six local governments across the United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 1, to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebration.

Several UK town halls have embraced this tradition in recent years, celebrating communities with large diaspora populations. With approximately 300,000 Nigerians in the UK, the country qualifies for this gesture of recognition.

The local authorities pledging to fly the Nigerian flag outside their town halls this year are Barking & Dagenham, Leeds, Doncaster, Rochdale, Bristol, and Croydon.

Many of these areas will also hold small receptions, featuring speeches by local mayors addressing their Nigerian communities. At the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, where five Nigerian councillors currently serve, the Central Association of Nigerians chairpersons in the UK (Canuk) and the Nigerian Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) have been invited to participate.

“Nigeria will be 64 this year and it is only befitting that after so many decades of Nigerians working in this country and contributing immensely to its growth several local authorities join us in celebrating the day. It is very pleasing to know that several town halls will be flying our flag on October 1, which I am sure will make the local Nigerians who live in those communities proud,” said Rose Graham, the Canuk publicity secretary.

Niyi Zaccheus, the Nido chair shared the organisation’s sentiments.

“We at NIDO are delighted to see this happening as among other things, it shows that we have Nigerian achievers doing great things all over the country. I think it is also nice to see that the local communities which have large Nigerian communities are using this occasion to acknowledge the contributions of our people,” he said

Moin Quadri, the mayor of Barking & Dagenham said the borough is very proud of its diversity and the way it serves as a “mini United Nations,” embracing people from numerous communities.