It was an extravaganza of cultural reawakening among Nigerian residents in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, as the Organisers of Crossroad of Cultural Festival played host to the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and other notable personalities in Brampton.
The two-day event also witnessed Headlamp Awards, Flavours of Nigeria Festival, Celebrating Culinary Diplomacy and deepening Nigeria-Canada cultural relations, among others.
PM Trudeau, who was received by Chuks Anyaduba and Akin Oduntan, was accompanied by Members of Parliament Arielle Kayabaga (London West), Shafqat Ali (Brampton Centre), Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera, and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.
Others were Nollywood actors Uzee Usman, Titi Kuti, celebrity journalist Adeniyi Ifetayo, and Ambassador Martins Acha.
The Prime Minister’s attendance also added glamour to the event and offered the politician the opportunity to see for himself Nigerian cuisines on display, thereby strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.
The event was jointly put together by the President, Headlamp Awards, Canada; Founder, International Initiative for Advancement of SDGs in Africa (IIASDGs), Anyaduba Chuks, and Principal Partner, Glogold Consulting and General Services Canada Inc., Mr Akin Oduntan.
According to Anyaduba, “The Crossroads of Culture Festival is to capture and showcase the diverse ways in which social impact champions are advancing the sustainable development goals and creating lasting change across African and Canada. We are actually celebrating culture, celebrating Nigerians in Brampton.”
For his part, Oduntan, in his remark, thanked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others for identifying with Crossroad of Culture Festival.
Oduntan acknowledged the contributions of the planning committee and the support of volunteers and vendors who made the festival a success.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of an Award for Excellence in Cultural Presentation presented to the revered monarch of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria, Ogiame Atuwatse III, by Chuks Anyaduba and received on his behalf by Adeniyi Ifetayo.
Ifetayo, who thanked the organisers, said His Royal Majesty was unavoidably absent due to the preparations for his 3rd year coronation anniversary.
“Just two days ago, Olu of Warri and her Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III, announced a $5,000 prize for designers in the creative industry, whether you are in the Diaspora or African continent as long as you are into the creative design industry you can send your work via Elevate Africa. On behalf of His Majesty, we want to thank the Headlamp Awards and the organisers for the recognition,” Ifetayo noted.
The Crossroads of Culture Festival was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), UNESCO, and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, and sponsored by the City of Brampton, Brampton Economic Development, Skyewise Group, Sketchfinix, and Uchenna Mbunabo TV.
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