By CECILIA OLOGUNAGBA

Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) New Jersey Chapter has honoured 14 Nigerians, including an 11-year-old girl, Delight Emenike, for their outstanding services to the Nigerian community and to humanity.

The NIDO chapter gave the awards at Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A at a flag-raising ceremony, with the theme: “Hurdling to glory”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Emenike was honoured for her entrepreneurship initiative of having a clothes line, designing, and sewing children’s clothes.

She was also honoured in recognition of her commitment to exceptional service to the Nigerian community.

Also, Mrs Yemisi Oladele, Social Secretary at the Nigerian Consulate-General office in New York was honoured for her commitment to exceptional service to the Nigerian Community.

Also honoured were the Deputy Mayor for International and Diaspora Affairs, Honorable Ligia DeFreitas, Prof. Yetunde Odugbesan-Omede (former Clinton Global Initiative Ambassador) and Alhaja Temitope Adesina.

Other award recipients included Attorney Ejikeme Uzor, Mr. Igwe Nkem Onumara and Dr. Lanre Babalola.

Reacting on behalf of the award recipients, Dr. Babalola, a Physician, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, thanked the organisers for recognising their contributions to the Nigerian community and to humanity.

Babalola said Nigerians living abroad had contributed immensely to their host and home countries, noting that they had a lot to celebrate as Nigeria clocked 62 years of independence on Oct. 1.

Speaking with NAN, President of NIDO, New Jersey chapter, Dr. Adeola Popoola, said Nigerians had a lot of to be proud of.

Popoola said Nigerians, especially those who were raised in Nigeria but lived abroad, had a lot to be proud of and to showcase to the world.

“I consider it a privilege to have schooled and be brought up in Nigeria. I believe I owe Nigeria a lot and I believe this privilege should be given to every Nigerian.

“In spite of happenings back home, we in the diaspora still love our homeland and make our country proud in our host countries.

“If you come from that background where Nigeria gave you so much, I don’t think you can do enough to give back so we should be hopeful that Nigeria will be a better country,” he said.

The president also told NAN that Nigerians in the U.S., especially those in New Jersey had been outstanding in their chosen careers and vocations.

“Look at our nurses; they are the best in the country; look at our doctors, they are some of the best; our physical therapists, are the best in the U.S.

“Those in real estate and in the law profession are doing well.

“We have a lot to be proud of. We also owe Nigeria a lot and we have to show to the whole world that Nigeria is good; that Nigeria is great, even though we have our challenges.

“We have to give hope and encouragement to our people at home. They are the ones experiencing the crunch of economic challenges,” he stressed.

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Newark City Council, Ms LaMonica McIver and top officials of the City Council.

Other in attendance included officials of the Nigerian Consulate in New York, the Head of Chancery, Mr Yazid Abdul, and friends of Nigeria from other countries. (NAN)

•PHOTO: (Middle) Ms Delight Emenike, youngest awardee with some Newark City Council officials and NIDO officials at a flag raising ceremony at Newark, New Jersey to commemorate the 62nd Independence Day anniversary

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