CANUK Team NGR Welcome Event

Cover of CANUK Event Guide

I along with other NGR NOC assistants were given  VIP invites, arranged by NOC Assistant Regional Co-ordinator, Africa  for London 2012 , to CANUK’s  (Central Association of Nigerians in UK ) gala reception dinner for Team Nigeria.

The Ticket

CANUK is an umbrella organisation for Nigerian Organisation in the UK – there are between two and three million Nigerians in UK making them perhaps one of the largest ex-patriot communities the UK.

The attendees were drawn the from the Great and Good of Nigerians  in the UK including  Dignitaries, Nollywood and football stars, Diplomats`- Nigerian & UK  , Entrepreneurs -  including a who’s who of Nigerians in the UK.

The entertainment was excellent and very Nigerian; a  comedian - MC Mark  - who joked about making pidgin English an official language, a brilliant soloist  saxophonist - Wale Great - playing some classics , a Diva - Carol Jiani -   who sang with the energy and dynamism of Chaka Khan, a rapper - Big Tizzy - too loud and arrhythmic for me - it’s an age thing - but the rest of team enjoyed him!

Carol Jiani 

Wale Great

The highlight of the evening was the chance to meet some of the Nigerian team and the Deputy Chef de Mission.

'Dapo', Me , Deputy Chef de Mission, Mr Alhassan Yakmut, Alex , 'Bernie'

I had to leave early as I had a train to catch so, one of the last speeches  I heard was from The Sports Minister’s but for me this was the most memorable. He spoke of NGR’s basketball  team – D’Tigers – who were playing in a tournament in Venezuela  as he spoke. If they won their last match against the Dominican Republic then they would qualify for London 2012. I woke the next morning to an email from Alex -  they’d done it !

D'Tigers Celebrate Qualification

This dramatically increases the size of the NGR delegation which means they will receive more resources in line with their  increased need – possibly including more NOC assistants so NGR NOC Assistants may be growing, more of that to follow.