Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), the official South African government-recognised umbrella body of Nigerians in South Africa, has called on all Nigerians living in Western Cape in particular and South Africa in general to officially register with the body to promote a common sense of oneness in that country.
The call was made ahead of the first ever Nigeria Cultural Festival slated to hold in South Africa later this year, to show case the rich culture of the Nigerian people, in a statement jointly signed by Chairman of NICASA, Apostle (Dr) Henry Ezumaha and Azebeokhai Leo, (Deputy Chairman, Western Cape Province), and made available to journalists in Benin City, Edo State.
The statement noted that through its collaborative efforts, NICASA has made it easier for Nigerians in WC to capture and get their international passports without having to travel to Johannesburg anymore.
The statement reads in part:
“As it’s to be expected, we help to deal with the welfare of Nigerians through various social and economic interventions. We also act as a bridge between Nigerians and the consulate in one hand, and Nigerians and the host community on another hand.
“One of our goals is to help build a stable and prosperous Nigerian community in Western Cape in particular and South Africa in general through the various initiatives and programmes that we have carried out, and a lot more programmes, activities and interventions planned for the short, medium and long term future that will benefit a lot of Nigerians.
“We go as far as helping to provide all logistics, security and organizing the venue throughout days of passport interventions that usually take up to three days at our own financial cost.
“Some interventions we have carried out include but not limited to; helping some of sick brothers settle their medical bills where they struggle to raise funds, visiting and rescuing Nigerians who have been illegally arrested and kept in jails. We go as far as engaging good lawyers to represent them.
“We have had the incident of sending a terminally-ill patient to Nigeria by covering all cost associated with that process”, Ezumah said.
For the benefit of Nigerians in South Africa, Ezumah reeled that NICASA has planned well-thought-out programmes for this year.
He said: “Our programmes for this year are: organizing the first ever Nigeria cultural festival to show case the rich culture of the Nigerian people, stage an event to recognize, celebrate and encourage Nigerian children who excel in their academics, recognize Nigerians excelling in their various fields of endeavours and the Made-in-Nigeria and Nigerian first community initiative.”
NICASA is a non-profit organisation that funds all its events through the benevolence of the executive members and other well-meaning stakeholders to the benefit of all Nigerians living in South Africa.
While encouraging all Nigerians to support the association financially, physically, morally and in whatever way possible to enable it continue to deliver proper community service to Nigerians in South Africa, NICASA however does not impose any form of levy on anyone.