Leaders of the Nigerian community in the United States yesterday met with Information Minister, Labaran Maku, to seek support of the Federal Government for the annual independence anniversary street parade in New York.?
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The rally,which holds every year to mark Nigeria’s independence, is the largest African street parade in the United States of America.
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This year’s parade which held at the 2nd avenue,terminating at the East 44th Street, New York was attended by over 100,000 Nigerians, Africans and other friends of Nigeria.
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The Information Minister who attended the rally as the special guest of honour was the first ever high-level Federal Government official to grace the annual event.
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This year rally which witnessed high display of Nigerian culture, music and dances was also graced by Nigerian ambassador to the United States, prof. Adefuye; and UN Adviser on MDGs, Amina Azzubair among others.
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The organisers under the auspices of the organization for the advancement of Nigerians were elated by the formal recognition they got this year with the presence of the Information Minister as the guest of honour at the parade. Led by Mr. Michael Adeniyi, they held a meeting with Mr. Maku at he UN Millennium Plaza Hotel, New York to press for the support of the federal government for the annual parade in NY.
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They expressed appreciation for the attendance of this year’s parade by Mr. Maku, stating that the annual parade was a big event recognised by the New York City Major who sent a personal letter of congratulations to Nigerians on this year’s event.
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The Nigerian community disclosed that they began the effort to celebrate Nigeria 20 years ago and have been holding the parade every October since then. They said over the years no recognition or support had ever been extended to them by the government of Nigeria.
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They requested the Federal Government to take advantage of this annual parade to sell Nigeria and its investment potential to the business community in the United States.?
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The organizers expressed their willingness to use the annual event to promote Nigeria and its image in the United States, calling on the federal government through the federal Minister of Information to partner with the organizers towards future organization of the independence parade in NYC, the commercial head quarters of America.
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They also thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for sending Mr. Maku to honour this year’s parade as they expressed the support of Nigerians in America for the President’s Transformation Agenda which is marked by sustained economic reforms and reforms of the nation’s electoral system which have led to freer and cleaner elections since 2011.?
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Responding, Mr. Maku congratulated the organizers for a very successful parade this year. The information minister assured Nigerians in America of President Jonathan’s support stating that this year’s rally was a huge eye opener to the commitment and patriotism of Nigerians in the United States.?
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He urged the organisers to collaborate more closely with the Nigerian Mission in Washington, which will serve as the bridge between them and the Federal Government.
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Mr. Maku expressed the readiness of the Federal Ministry of Information to collaborate with the organisers to use the annual parade to promote Nigeria’s image and investment potentials in the United States.
