22 October 2007

BEIRUT: The Lebanese-Nigerian Friendship Association (LENIFRA) kicked off inaugural festivities in grand style at the UNESCO building in Verdun over the weekend. Held under the auspices of the Nigerian Embassy, Saturday's Sunday's events also included the first annual Nigerian-Lebanese cultural festival.

William Zard Abou Jaoude, chairman of LENIFRA's board of trustees, said that the festival "marks a step which is the first of its kind between Lebanon and the heart of the African continent, Nigeria."

The festival included cultural performances, dances, movies, art and music, added to the pageantry of the inauguration and created high spirits among presenters and attendees alike. Children and parents danced and sang throughout the entire evening on Saturday.

A poetry reading of "Our Story" by Elie Nabhan, whose grandfather Habib Nabhan was  Lebanese expatriate who lived in Nigeria, said the spirit of the festivities was like "an African face with arms wide out to meet the Arab race."

Lebanon and Nigeria have shared a special bond for more than a century, and today the two countries enjoy close and diverse relations. According to the embassy, Nigeria and Lebanon share "identical views on global and regional issues, especially on the arms race, disarmament, world peace and security, as well as Middle East peace." Nigeria has also contributed to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission in the South.

With a population of almost 140 million people comprising almost 250 ethnic groups, Nigeria also shares the Lebanese attribute of diversity, and the need for coexistence and better communication.

"We hope that this [Nigerian] experience will serve as an example for our country, which includes about 4 million people, encouraging officials to look for elements of accordance and conformity, while giving the public interest precedence over all others," Abou Jaoude said in his speech.

According to Nigerian Ambassador Hameed Opeloyeru, "there are about 40,000 Lebanese living in Nigeria and about 2,000 Nigerians residing in Lebanon, many of whom on both sides come back to their home countries and are eager still to remain near to their adopted cultures."

LENIFRA got its start on August 2 when an 11-member working committee, including Opeloyeru, came together to discuss the merits of a Lebanese-Nigerian association and the promotion of the two countries' close ties. At the conclusion of the meeting, the creation of LENIFRA was unanimously approved.

However, the roots of the organization go back further. On July 6, 1971, a group of Nigerian workers and students held a meeting at the embassy in Beirut and agreed to the creation of a community which would provide assistance to Nigerian citizens and allow them to work hand-in-hand with the embassy for consular as well as other needs.

Opeloyeru said the aim of the group "is to create educational and cultural programs to popularize - through both contact and exchange - Nigeria, so the Lebanese may understand us and their brothers living and working in the country. Additionally, it is for the Nigerians to better understand the Lebanese culture and Lebanon's unique relationship with Nigeria."

"We wish to use LENIFRA to promote greater social and cultural awareness in both Lebanon and Nigeria," he added.

"This is the first event from our new association," the ambassador said of the weekend event, "but we will have a cultural festival every year along with constant workshops, lectures, and get-togethers to promote the goals of LENIFRA."