Washington DC, a city in the United States of America, has announced that October 1 will be celebrated as Nigerian American Day to commemorate Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Day anniversary.
Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, DC, made this announcement in a statement on September 30, 2022.
According to the Mayor of Washington, DC, Bowser, the District of Columbia held one of the largest Nigerian immigrant populations in the US. Further, she added that DC residents hailed the contributions made by the Nigerian Americans as civic leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
In the opinion of the Mayor of Washington, DC, Nigerian music and art, particularly Afrobeats and Nollywood, enrich the cultural economy and strengthen the cultural ties of Nigeria with the United States of America (USA).
“The Nigerian Center, an immigrant and cultural centre in Washington, DC, provides a platform for the African diaspora to learn about their Nigerian heritage and extends routes for recently arrived Nigerian immigrants to become Nigerian Americans.”
“The city’s Office on African Affairs works in collaboration with the Nigerian Center to foster economic inclusion and advancement and to promote Nigerian culture,” Bowser said.
According to some sources, the Nigerian Center is the US’s first immigrant and cultural centre for the Nigerian diaspora.
The Center was established to connect the Nigerian culture to the people of Nigerian-American ancestry. Further, the Center also offers financial inclusion and social justice opportunities for members of the Nigerian American community living in the United States.
The centre also created cultural programs for first-generation Nigerian-Americans in addition to that, supporting the newly arrived immigrants.
Also, the Nigerian centre is opening a walk-in immigration clinic in Washington, DC, for community members who require legal assistance regarding immigration and naturalisation.
The centre and several community organisations serving the Nigerian American community will announce the opening on October 4.
