Nigerian Students and Nurture 1st

When you wear a hoody with Proud to be African on it or a sweatshirt with Born in the UK, Made in Nigeria, it kind of drops a broad hint as to what your about and where you’re from, so it is a little bit surprising that at an event last week someone decided to engage me in conversation in fluent German.  As my Deutcsh is limited to ‘Ja’ and ‘nein’ (those school boy comics) this was not just a surprise but a rather awkward moment.

So I will start with a hello, move on to a jambo and follow up with a sannu!

After the British Youth Achievement  Awards last Saturday at the Jurys Inn Hotel, Croydon, and Natural November event at the Africa Centre we spent the week checking stock and consolidating but this weekend.

I’m in Naija mode again because Saturday sees the grand launch of the Nigerian  Students Union of the UK (NSUUK).  This event marks the start of an organisation that will be the umbrella (or is that umbullerra?) organisation for the various Nigerian student Unions around the country. The jam packed event will see business and networking (na Naija people after all, business first!), a fashion show and entertainment and key note speeches by invited guests such as the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK Dr Dalhatu Tafida, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (Ogun State Governor) and Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi Federal Minister for Youth Development. This FREE event starts at 11am on Saturday the 26^th November and is being held at the Docklands Campus of the University of East London (UEL), Room 2, Ground Floor, 4-6 University Way, London, E16 2RD.

Proud to be African Clothing will be there selling and grooving so make una bring money!

Later on that evening at 9.30pm the Nurture 1st Foundation will be holding, their  launch at Funky Brown, 5 Tottenham Lane, Crouch End, N8 9DJ.

Proud to be African Clothing is always seeking out organisations that talk less and do more and Nurture 1st is one of these, having set up a school in Obigbo, Rivers State and is providing, education and training for 520 school children ranging from nursery to secondary school level, with 205 children on full scholarship and is supplied with uniform and books.

In addition to a Head Teacher the school has 15 teachers, 2 lab assistants, a nurse, a bus driver and 4 security men. Everything is provided by the charitable donations of the members and through fundraising events such as this, so please turn up show support at 9.30pm at Funky Browns, Crouch End, tickets are £10.00 and there will be DJ’s, Male and Female Auction, Raffles and Prize giving

This night is part of their fundraising efforts and alongside a wide range of entertainment they will be selling some items. Funky Brown is right next to Hornsey Rail station

On Sunday we will be back in North London for the 1st Annual Ghana-UK Fashion Show-. This is taking place at RS Lounge, 20 Woodford New Road, E17 3PR and will see top African designers all under one roof, tickets are available from Bongo Bar, Kumasi Market and Kenkey House

Other events we have an interest in are TedX Euston on Saturday, unfortunately tickets are sold out but this fascinating event with a focus on Africa will be taking place at Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), 66, Portland Place, W1B 1AD London. The theme is ‘Inspiring Ideas about Africa’ and will feature great presentations from people such as Lola Shoneyin, Femi Temowo, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Paula Akugizibwe, Rt. Hon Paul Boateng MP, Arnold Ekpe and so many others.

Saturday evening at the New Empowering Church Dalston, Dele Sosimi will be demonstrating that Afrobeat never die, with his Afrobeat Vibration Sessions.

Last week’s events were hectic enough but as you can see we will be running around trying to be in as many places as possible, if you see me and you are the first person to tell me who wrote ‘Things fall apart’ I will give you a free T shirt.