23rd July, 2012
The Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC and one of their marketing partners, IMPC have concluded plans to entertain Nigerians in London during the entire duration of the London 2012 Olympic Games by taking the likes of Naeto C, Omawunmi and Eldee to the Wazobia village.
The Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa, ANOCA, Village at Kessington Garden, opposite Hyde Park in London, will house the village and 24 other African countries.
Goke Dokun, IMPC Chief Executive Officer, said the centre would provide entertainment for Nigerians in London for the Games, adding that the centre would hold an art and tourism exhibitions, which would involve Chinwe Chukwuego-Roy, National Gallery of Arts, Nigeria, and Damilola Oshilaja of Grunge Studio.
According to Dokun, other activities at the village are Trade Day on 31 July, National Costume Day on 1 August, First Bank Day on 4 August, Tourism Showcase on 5 August, Photo Story (Exhibition of Nigeria’s history in pictures with Baba Shettima and Talent Day, while the NOC/Athletes Day is on 12 August, the last day of the Games.
The State Days are 2, 3, 6, 7 and 9 August and it will involve state resources, exhibition, networking and entertainment. He further disclosed that athletes, officials and journalists could have a taste of Nigerian dishes while in London, while the artists would entertain the guests.
“What we are trying to do is to make the travelling fans and athletes feel at home in London by providing them things they can only get in Nigeria,” he said at the NOC secretariat in Lagos.
—Adebobola Alawode