Recently, the Consulate General of South Africa in Lagos in collaboration with the Art Kingdom International Foundation, in celebration of this year’s edition of United Nation International Day honoured the late Nelson Mandela. The event was to also mark the 67 years he served his nation before his demise. The event which was held at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos titled “What do I do to make everyday a Mandela Day”, kicked off on Friday the July 17, with a symposium organised for the youths’ followed by a visit to the orphanage home.
It was concluded with an honorary celebration for the late Nelson Mandella, aimed at bringing people of different tribes and cultures to unite as one. According to the ambassador of South Africa to Nigeria, Mr. Samuel Monaisa, the objectives of the event was to bring to remembrance the effort of the late icon. He said, “This day has been declared by the united nation to honor the life and time of Nelson Mandela all over the world” he then added that as a way of carrying out the exercise, sixty seven minutes is specifically set aside to celebrate the late Icon all over the world at this period of every year, he added. Dr. Newton Jibunoh, who chaired the event, stated that Africa as a whole is blessed to have Nelson Mandela. He implored every good citizen of Africa and the world to emulate the late Mandela for selfless fight for freedom.
“Let us take time to ask ourselves the question, what can I do to make everyday a Mandela day? Let us look for ways to fight injustice, help people no matter how seemingly intangible it appears, give back our time and resources to our communities and practice reconciliation. As Nelson Mandela said, ‘it is in our hand to create a better world for all who live in it’”. Also speaking at the event, the resident and founder of the Art Kingdom international foundation, Prince Yomi Otukoya stated that the event took a different shape this as it was been held in Nigeria with all the various activities that were put in place which according to him was to make the Africans know and to value its culture. He said “The organization is aimed at creating a platform whereby youth and upcoming generations will be proud of its cultural inheritance and to embrace its value”. Yomi further added that the Art kingdom international found partners with the Nelson Mandela foundation in South Africa in training and mentoring people in the area of art.
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