It was a big honour for Nigeria as Newark, the largest city in the State of New Jersey honoured the country with hoisting of the green-white-green flag in the City Hall.

The Mayor of the City, Ras Baraka, also presented Nigeria with the City’s Highest Order of Proclamation in recognition of the contributions to the City and the United States.

Nigerians in Newark and New York shutdown the city hall as they trooped out to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th independence anniversary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was the second time a U.S. city celebrated Nigeria’s independence with the raising of the country’s flag at the city hall.

Newark’s proclamation came only few weeks after Hempstead, a city in the State of New York, hoisted the Nigerian flag to commemorate the country’s 58th independence anniversary on Oct. 1.

The Newark mayor said that the hoisting of the flag at the City Hall was significant for him and the largest city in the State of New Jersey.

He added that “the significance of the proclamation is that the Mayor and the City of Newark recognise Nigeria on this day: this is ‘Nigeria’s Day’ at the City Hall”.

Represented by Mr Ugochukwu Nwaokoro, the Deputy Mayor for International Relations and Diaspora Affairs, Baraka said: “the raising of Nigeria’s flag at the City Hall symbolises that the city accepts you; it means your flag is rising.

The event, jointly organised by the Mayor’s Office and Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), New Jersey, was attended by Nigerian officials, led by Consul-General in New York, Benaoyagha Okoyen, and Ambassador to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande.

The Consul-General said “Nigeria is a land of promise” that had endured a tortured history of political instability, religious and ethnic conflicts like many countries.

Okoyen, who spoke on: ‘Nigeria the Promise’, said “the nation has come of age”, noting, however, that “if the country must succeed, Nigerians must be truthful to the national pledge.

“We must be faithful, loyal and honest, serve our country with all our strength with sincerity, defend her unity as a people and uphold what brings honour and glory to our dear nation.

“To truly make Nigeria a place of the ‘promise’, we must uphold the ideals of true patriotism and nationalism,” he said.

Okoyen regretted that the consequences of Nigeria’s post-colonial disposition were enormous but said the country must overcome the internal contradictions and marshal out a purposeful direction for the citizenry.

Nigerians honoured for their exemplary service to Nigerian diasporas included Mr and Mrs Moses Adeniji of New African Broadcasting Network; and Mr Okems Okemezie, the Commissioner for African Affairs, City of Newark.

Others were Dr Abel Famubode, pioneer African trado-pharmacist in U.S.; Ms Olamide Talabi, Commissioner in the City of Newark; Pastor Christopher Talabi, a foremost philanthropist; and Miss Chierika Ukogu, a Nigerian Olympian.

Others were Hon. and Councilman Charles Onyejiaka, African immigrant’s only elected public official in New Jersey; and Chief Albert Okagie, a distinguished Nigerian community leader. (NAN)

•City of Newark’s highest order of proclamation presented to Nigerian officials by the City’s Mayor, Ras Baraka.