Tag: Nigerians in Canada

Arts

Artist Oluseye Ogunlesi builds a Black Ark to explore Canada’s colonial history

BY BETTY WOOD | THE SPACES

What looks like the hull of a long-lost ship has appeared at Toronto’s Ashbridges Bay – a haunting installation by Nigerian-Canadian artist Oluseye Ogunlesi exploring Canada’s ‘forgotten’ role in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Dubbed Black Ark, the 12-ft-tall immersive sculptural installation is presented as part of the Luminato Toronto Arts Festival. It’s conceived as a ‘symbolic home’ to commemorate the survivors of slavery, with its form evoking both the pitched silhouette of a chapel and the bow of a ship.

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Uncategorized

Uchenna Nicholas Opara |This Nigerian student mopped floors to pay for his Canadian degree

By RYNNAAS AZLAN | Study International

When the sun goes down, most Canadians are already warm in their houses, eating dinner and unwinding from a long day at work. For Nigerian student Uchenna Nicholas Opara, it was time to clock in and start mopping floors at an office complex for 14 Canadian dollars an hour.

Continue reading “Uchenna Nicholas Opara |This Nigerian student mopped floors to pay for his Canadian degree” →
Uncategorized

Nigerian-born Akim Aliu lands book deal on how he confronted racism in hockey

By John Wawrow | Associated Press

Glancing at the illustration of the boy with the far-off stare standing next to a bus on the cover of the graphic novel memoir that will tell his story, Akim Aliu immediately remembers the pain of growing up poor and Black in Toronto.

From the hours spent alone riding public transit to and from arenas across the city to the strips of duct tape holding together the garage sale-purchased hockey equipment bag slung over his shoulder, the depiction of a teenaged Aliu hits home. Aliu was born in Nigeria to mixed-race parents and then lived in Ukraine before the family moved to Canada.

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African Food

‘It feels like I’m home’: Wandebo African Store in St. John’s servicing new Canadians and curious locals

By Andrew Waterman | Saltwire

As a boy growing up in Nigeria, Olusola Adeyemi dreamed of one day owning a store.

But he never imagined it would be on Ropewalk Lane.

“I’ve tried so many businesses, but this idea came in 2020,” he said.

Olusola, his wife, Bolanle, and their five children were living in Toronto when the government-mandated closure of businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic left him without work.

Continue reading “‘It feels like I’m home’: Wandebo African Store in St. John’s servicing new Canadians and curious locals” →
Uncategorized

Abimbola Aina|Nigerian-Canadian bodybuilder says dream of pro career made possible by support of community in Regina

By Victoria Idowu | CBC News

When Abimbola Aina came to Regina from a small town in Ogun state in Nigeria, he had little more than a body and a dream.

“My goal was to become a great bodybuilder, but it would not have happened if I was not in a great country like Canada,” Aina said.

“Coming to Canada changed my life.”

Continue reading “Abimbola Aina|Nigerian-Canadian bodybuilder says dream of pro career made possible by support of community in Regina” →
Education

Nigerians studying in Canada hit record high

By Bunmi Bailey | Businessday

Nigerian students are heading to Canada in record numbers despite Nigeria’s economic downturn, according to new data from the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

According to the IRCC data, the number of new study permits for Nigeria increased by 30.3 percent to 13,745 from 10,550 in 2020, making it the ninth most popular source country for international students. This is the highest in 22 years.

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Sports

Nigerians and Ghanaians among Immigrants who Helped Canada Qualify For FIFA World Cup

A winger born in a refugee camp in Buduburam, Ghana, to parents fleeing the civil war in Liberia in 1999. A goalkeeper who escaped the Croatian war of independence at the age of seven. A forward born in New York and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

A left-back and a striker, born to Nigerian families in England.

Continue reading “Nigerians and Ghanaians among Immigrants who Helped Canada Qualify For FIFA World Cup” →
Music

Interview With Nigerian-Canadian Artist Stanley

By Jonathan Engel | Epic Music 

Transporting the listener on a wonderfully picturesque story of love, betrayal, and all the human spectrum of feelings, Stanley’s new album Resurrection sees the artist generously pour his emotionality while singing magnificently over a graceful pop, r&b, EDM and Afro music sonic fusion. We’ve had the chance to chat with him about his new album, what it represents for him, as well as his career and upcoming projects. 

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Politics

Nigerian, Agboola, appointed into senior leadership committee in Canada’s Conservative Party

By Ripples Nigeria

A Nigerian, Shola Agboola has been appointed by the Canadian Conservative Party to the Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC). The LEOC is an important organ of the party that organises the process that leads to the emergence of party leaders at the national level.

Agboola is to represent Manitoba in the committee which consists of 21 members, including past and present members of parliament.

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Awards

Brampton artist Falana among honourees of SOCAN’s Black Canadian Music Awards

By Krystle Hewitt | Brampton Guardian

Nigerian-Canadian singer-songwriter, Falana, is fresh from the success of her sophomore EP ‘Rising’ and she’s being recognized for her music by the SOCAN Foundation. She’s among five recipients of this year’s SiriusXM Black Canadian Music Awards.

She’s grateful to be recognized for a project that she says solidified her voice as a songwriter.

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Education

Bias and discrimination alleged as reasons behind high Canadian visa rejection rates among Africans

BY STUDY INTERNATIONAL STAFF

Nigerian students eager to study in Canada might need a Plan B to fall back on. Quoting a recent study from Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), an academic told online portal THISDAY that a study commissioned by the Department for Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) identified bias and discrimination as the primary reason behind high visa rejection rates among Nigerians and other African nationals: only 12% reportedly managed to get applications approved.

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Uncategorized

Advocates drag Catholic school that called police on 4-year-old Nigerian child in Canada

By Paula Duhatschek | CBC News

Advocates for Black families are speaking out after they say police were called to a Catholic elementary school in Kitchener, Ontario Canada, last fall to deal with an incident involving a four-year-old Nigerian.

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Appointments

Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji | Former International Criminal Court president joins Ryerson Law

By Bernise Carolino | Canadian Lawyer MAgazine

Ryerson University’s law school has announced the appointments of new faculty and staff members, beginning this July: Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji, Graham Hudson, Uchechukwu Ngwaba, Jennifer Orange, Joshua Sealy-Harrington, Luke Taylor and Frankie Young.

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Achievements

Tani Adewumi: Meet the 10-year-old Nigerian refugee who became a national chess master

By Jeremiah Rodriguez | CTVNews

From fleeing persecution to starting a new life in the U.S., young Tani Adewumi’s immigrant journey was mired with adversity, mirroring the refugee experience of so many who land in North America. But picking up chess just four years ago ended up becoming a transformational move that has helped change everything for his family. And now, at only 10 years old, Tani just became a U.S. national chess master. The Nigerian refugee’s remarkable rise comes two years after he gained worldwide attention for winning the New York State chess championship while he and his family were living in a homeless shelter.

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Immigration

Why Nigerians Are Immigrating to Canada in Droves

By Colin Singer | CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS

In the five years before COVID-19 Nigerian immigration to Canada more than tripled, and a new study shows this “Canada Rush” was driven by a longing for a more prosperous future.

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Sports

Eugene Omoruyi Is Showing Out for Canada—and Nigeria—at March Madness

BYLUKAS WEESE |  COMPLEX CANADA

Eugene Omoruyi’s face brightened up when asked about his teammate, Chris Duarte.

 “That’s my brother,” Omoruyi said. 

Omoruyi and Duarte have a ton in common. They are both Canadian, even though Omoruyi knows more about the country’s history than Duarte.

Continue reading “Eugene Omoruyi Is Showing Out for Canada—and Nigeria—at March Madness” →
Religion

Rev. Moses Adekola | Nigerian pastor reflects on journey to Nova Scotia, life devoted to helping others

By Carole Morris-Underhill | Cape Breton Post

Rev. Moses Adekola smiles when he sees falling snow. The mere sight of snowflakes falling to the ground makes the Nigerian-born pastor grin from ear to ear.

“Winter is my favourite. I just love wintertime,” said Adekola, sipping on a hot chocolate while sitting inside a Tim Hortons restaurant.

Continue reading “Rev. Moses Adekola | Nigerian pastor reflects on journey to Nova Scotia, life devoted to helping others” →
Culture

Nigerian cultural group hosts cultural festival in Canada

By Jimoh Babatunde | Vanguard

The organizers of the annual Global Black & African Festival of Arts & Culture (GBAFACC) say all arrangements have been concluded to have a successful celebration. The co-founder and operations director, Edo Global Royal Art and Culture Canada, Jackson Osamede Igbinosun, made this known while revealing that the Global Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture billed for December 11-12, in Toronto, Canada, would hold virtually this year due to COVID-19 restrictions on physical gatherings.

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Uncategorized

Nigerian-Canadians Condemn Crackdown on Protestors

By Fabian Dawson| The Star

Members of the Nigerian community in Canada are calling on Ottawa to condemn their home country’s decision to freeze 20 bank accounts linked to recent protests against police brutality. The bank accounts, linked to prominent participants of the #EndSARS protesters have been restricted following a federal court ruling in Abuja and an investigation by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

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Immigration

Nigeria leads China for asylum claims to Canada despite Covid-19

By Yomi Kazeem | Quartz Africa

In February, data showed that, for the fifth year in a row, more Nigerians emigrated to Canada in 2019 than the year before. Another marker of that exodus is that the number of Nigerians issued permanent residence (PR) permits by the Canadian government has tripled since 2015. 

Continue reading “Nigeria leads China for asylum claims to Canada despite Covid-19” →
Uncategorized

DJ Switch | Canada may have granted asylum to #EndSARS protester

By Arise News

Strong indications have emerged that Canada may have granted asylum to DJ Switch, the #EndSARS protester who streamed live the shooting of protesters by the army at Lekki Toll gate in Lagos State on October 20, 2020. DJ Switch sought asylum following what she said were “several attempts” on her life.

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Immigration

Canada clarifies on refugee and immigration application process for Nigerians, others

By Chike Olisah | Nairametrics

The Canadian Government in a clarification to Nigerians and other nationals has said that its Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates, Consulates-General or Honorary Consulates, do not accept refugee applications directly from people.

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Entertainment

New Afro-Canadian TV series shooting in Calgary challenging narratives and industry norms

By Dan McGarvey  | CBC News

A new TV drama series being shot in Calgary is a Canadian first, according to its African producer and director. The African Family is based around a young Afro-Canadian woman who sponsors her husband to come to Canada from Angola, but discovers the truth about their marriage.

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Communities

‘They need our backing’: Ontario’s Nigerian community reflects on #EndSARS police protests

By Nick Westoll | Globalnews.ca

With thousands of residents across Nigeria demonstrating against police brutality and the widely condemned Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) over the past few weeks, expats and community members who live in Canada are rallying to support friends and loved ones who are protesting overseas.

Continue reading “‘They need our backing’: Ontario’s Nigerian community reflects on #EndSARS police protests” →
Uncategorized

Daniel Ohaegbu | The 24-year-old Nigerian graduate creating a more inclusive Canada for international students

By LEELIAN KONG | Study International

Canada is the first country, Daniel Ohaegbu, 24, has ever travelled to outside of his home country Nigeria. He calls it home today, but it wasn’t always a walk in the park for Ohaegbu from the moment he stepped off the plane. International students face contemporary racism here, says Ohaegbu. “It comes in the form of assumptions. Assuming you know about an individual’s intellectual capacity or ability to perform.

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Communities

Nigerians in Toronto worry for the safety of relatives as police, protesters clash back home

By CBC News 

The Nigerian community in Toronto is watching with growing worry and anger as violent clashes between police and protesters continue to escalate in Africa’s most populous nation.

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Uncategorized

#EndSARS: Canadian Association of Nigerian lawyers suggests ways of resolving the crisis –

By The NEWS

The Canadian Association of Nigerian Lawyers (CANL) in Toronto, has made some observations and recommendations on how to resolve the #EndSARS mayhem that has made Nigeria a centre of global attention.

Continue reading “#EndSARS: Canadian Association of Nigerian lawyers suggests ways of resolving the crisis –” →
Uncategorized

Nigerian community in Newfoundland and Labrador unites in call to end police brutality in Nigeria

By CBC News 

Members of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Nigerian community came together in solidarity Saturday, demanding an end to police brutality and the need for police reform in the country. The group is one of many around the world protesting, following years of violence at the hands of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, known in Nigeria as SARS.

Continue reading “Nigerian community in Newfoundland and Labrador unites in call to end police brutality in Nigeria” →
Uncategorized

Nigerian singer Dice Ailes leads #EndSARS protest in Toronto

By ODION OKONOFUA  | Pulse

Nigerian singer Dice Ailes has led a group of #EndSARS protest in Toronto, Canada. The singer says Nigerians have had enough from the overzealous police officers in the country.

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Opinion

Kelechi Madu |A Worthy Ambassador of Nigeria

Editorial by The Nation Newspaper

HE is a Nigerian-born Canadian leader of whom his country of birth is proud. Kaycee (Kelechi) Madu just made history as the first person of African origin to be appointed Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General of Alberta, a province of Canada. His appointment to that office was not only historic, he has a historic mission and came a long way in his professional career and public service in his country of domicile to attain that height.

Continue reading “Kelechi Madu |A Worthy Ambassador of Nigeria” →