Diaspora umbrella body, the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk), has seen a dramatic surge in requests to join its member organisations on the back of two recent highly successful online seminars that attracted over 500 people.
On 4 May, Canuk organised the first of the two seminars titled Support for New and Existing Nigerian Families in the UK: Preventing Child Safeguarding Breaches and Understanding UK Social Services Interventions. Put together by its membership committee chaired by Flora Njoku (Canuk’s vice chair, associations), the event attracted several prominent Nigerians in the UK
Among those who spoke were Ekanem Robertson, who spoke on behalf of the charity Africans Against Child Abuse (Afruca); Tolulope Abegunde, the secretary of the Association of Nigerian Healthcare and Socialcare Workers (ANHCSCW); Juliet Benson of the British Nigerian Law Forum and Oluyemisi Jenkins of the Home Office. They delivered invaluable insights into navigating child safeguarding issues and social services interventions in the UK.
Among those who spoke were Ekanem Robertson, who spoke on behalf of the charity Africans Against Child Abuse (Afruca); Tolulope Abegunde, the secretary of the Association of Nigerian Healthcare and Socialcare Workers (ANHCSCW); Juliet Benson of the British Nigerian Law Forum and Oluyemisi Jenkins of the Home Office. They delivered invaluable insights into navigating child safeguarding issues and social services interventions in the UK.
Ms Njoku said: “Attendees at the seminar gained practical knowledge to ensure the safety and well-being of Nigerian families. We had almost 300 people attend and they were so impressed with the quality of delivery that we have since been inundated with requests about how to join Canuk member organisations.”
Just a week later on Saturday 11 May, Canuk’s legal committee headed by its legal adviser Kayode Okenla held its own virtual summit. It was titled Legal Issues Affecting Nigerians in the UK Part One. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with legal experts and became more informed about how to navigate numerous challenges effectively.