David Cameron recognises Nigerian cultural ambassador as Point of Light
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Despite the fact that Nigeria is a colonial contraption and was a colony of Britain, the unwholesome behavioural patterns and conducts of some Nigerians in the Great Britain have cultivated unmitigated hatred and opprobrium towards Nigeria and Nigerians domiciled in the UK from the Government of Great Britain.
This sometimes have actuated diplomatic face offs between Nigeria and the Great Britain which have been deflated by diplomatic niceties and laundering of memorable colonial ties .
And some of the stories emanating from the UK about Nigeria are not heart warming.”
“16,400 Nigerians languish in UK prisons.
FROM the Senate came a revelation yesterday that not less than 16,400 Nigerians are languishing in United Kingdom (UK) prisons. Disclosing this during the debate on A Bill for An Act to Repatriate Nigerian Prisoners Serving Jail Terms in Commonwealth Countries, Senator Benedict Ayade told the Senate that it took the UK government about 1.6 million pounds to feed the Nigerian prisoners per day “”2011.
Only a man of evil will love this
Four Nigerian men, Monty Emu, Adewunmi Nusi, Emmanuel Oko, and Chukwuka Ugwu have been jailed a total of 14 years for duping single women of about $350,000.
According to the UK Mirror, the four men duped these women after they responded to a false profile of an “attractive middle-aged man” on popular dating site, Match.com.”October 2014.
And no one can be impressed with
“Two Nigerians living in the UK, Olatunde Emmanuel Lawal and Abraham George have been jailed after they were found guilty of stealing credit card details and used them to live a lavish lifestyle way beyond their means – buying designer clothes, expensive TVs, and one of them had a luxury wedding”Jan 2015.
And so many other disturbing news about Nigerians in the UK.
Thus, Nigerian Twitter buffs were shocked on November 1, 2014 when the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr David Cameron streamed on his own platform a congratulatory letter written and signed by him to a Nigerian, Mr Adisa Oladimeji, a cultural enthusiast who domiciled in Liverpool.
It was a bag of surprise to many going by the fact that the letter which bears the address and personal handwriting signature of the Prime Minister conveyed a deep appreciation of the cultural and tourism activities of Mr Oladimeji by the government and people of the UK.
In the letter, the Prime Minister said:
“It is gratifying that while a few Nigerians in the UK have given the country a bad image with the western media making mince meat of their nefarious activities and using that as the benchmark to judge Nigeria and Nigerians, Mr Oladimeji’s solo efforts in his community in Liverpool shot him out as an icon of reference which has cultivated respect and honour to himself and Nigeria .
That the activities of Mr Oladimeji have reached such a noticeable degree that caught the attention of the Prime Minister is not only marvellous, but instructive to other Nigerians in the UK who should realise that their conducts, acts and communal relationship are being watched and noted.
Adding value to the world is not only by a phenomenal invention or out of the world miracles, the small and the so called intangible acts, touch and response to event create the ambiance which reinforce the society well being and welfare.
This is what the singular passion of Oladimeji Adisa who domiciled in Liverpool inaugurated the Osun Arts Foundation with the sole aim of warming the cultural value, norms and tradition of the Yoruba to Britons.
This is what he has been pursuing passionately by teaching, coaching, promoting and educating over 10 000 Britons in appreciating, embracing and understanding the intrinsic cultural positivities and relevance of the Yoruba culture to good neighbourliness, peace, love and harmonious cultural understanding and relationship.
Though at his own cost and personal sacrifice, Mr Oladimeji never wavered nor looked back and may not even been aware that some people are watching, taking note that his activities are contributing to the greatness of his country.
To the Prime Minister and the people of Great Britain, Mr Oladimeji deserves a big thank and honour and they have done their part .
Great Britain appreciated a Nigerian or should it be a case of a prophet not worthy of honour in his home?
Though the Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo at the World Travel Market held in November last year acknowledged and recognised the contribution of Mr Oladimeji, but the beauty must not stop there.
Mr Oladimeji’s acts at shoring up the image of Nigeria and Nigerians in the UK is inestimable while his commitment at ensuring that Britons got a deeper insight and appreciate the culture and traditions of Nigeria exemplified through the Yoruba culture should not be left unnoticed at home.
The fact that his award is not predicated on any ethnic slant rather than African tradition is another testimony of the global dimension and acceptance of his work and passion.
The Federal Government should not waste time at following up what Great Britain has done by ensuring a concrete stamping of the conduct of Mr Oladimeji not only to massage his ego and push him to do more, but also to serve as point of reference to others.
We should be proud of this man from Ilobu, in Osun State who has added value of respect and reference to his state.
It is high time the Federal Government and the Governor of the State of Osun celebrated this man and appropriately honour him for doing Nigeria proud in the UK where some of his peers have dragged and still dragging the name of the country and their states in the mud.
