Though Born in Winnipeg, I Was Raised to Understand Who I Am as a Nigerian – Uzoma Asagwara, Manitoba’s Deputy Premier

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Being a speech by Honourable Uzoma Asagwara, the 11th Deputy Premier, Province of Manitoba, Canada; Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care, and Member, Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Manitoba for Union Station, at the epochal Nigeria’s 64th Independence celebration on October 5, the first since the passing of Bill 22 which officially recognises October 1 as the celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary, the first in Canada, facilitated by the 40-year-old Canadian-Nigerian MLA. The colourful event was held at the Alloway Hall, Manitoba Museum, 190, Rupert Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Hi everyone. Good evening. My knees are old basketball knees now, so, I have to be careful how I try and dance. I am so honored, really and truly honored and humbled to be amongst my only community to bring greetings on behalf of the Province of Manitoba and our Premier, Wab Kinew, and to say happy Nigerian Independence.

I want to acknowledge the other elected folks here in the room. I did acknowledge MLA Jennifer Chen for Fort Richmond earlier. She’s right over there, it’s great to see MLA Chen, always supporting our community. I noted the remarks on behalf of our MP in southern Winnipeg, which is wonderful, and I am thrilled to hear that he’s working on direct flights to Nigeria. But the next time we get an update, it can’t be working on direct flights, it needs to be there are direct flights to Nigeria. It’s an absolute pleasure to be here.

You know, our government, as I said earlier, supports our community. It has supported our community for decades in Manitoba. And, you know, as the MLA in downtown Winnipeg, a place where I know we gathered as community for many years, many different ways, celebrating our community. But you know, this has been a big week celebrating Nigeria’s Independence here in Manitoba.

For the first time, we raised the Nigerian flag on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature at Memorial Park on Independence Day. Later in the week, I attended the 19th Igbo education lecture series at the University of Winnipeg hosted by the Umunna Association. It was an incredible lecture delivered by Dr. Marcia Anderson who is a renowned physician here in Manitoba, First Nation’s doctor here in Manitoba, who gave a keynote presentation on the importance of doing anti-racism work in health care. And I looked at that, and I sat in that room, and I was able to attend, and I thought to myself how powerful it is that here in Manitoba, you have Nigerian leaders and communities, during a week when we celebrate our independence, working with First Nations experts in our Province to advance the rights of both of our communities. And I thought during a week where we know it’s Nigerian Independence, and our sovereignty as a nation.

I reflected on that moment because when we were putting together the legislation for Nigerian Independence Day, elders who were in the room stood up and made it very clear to me that it was so important that law spoke to the relationship with the first peoples of this land who welcomed Nigerians and have welcomed Nigerians to call Manitoba home for decades. And the shared experience of colonisation and overcoming that, and getting to a place where advancing generations, that relationship is so fundamentally important. And I want to thank the Umunna Association for putting that lecture series together for bringing First Nations leaders into that space to work with our communities.

You know, I was one of our first-generation Canadians. I was born in Winnipeg; born and raised in the Prairies. I’ve been to Nigeria, but never ever was raised, not for a second, not understanding who I am as a Nigerian; not for a second. And that is a testament to our parents both of whom are here tonight. I want to recognise my mom, Mama Doris; my father, Dr. Asagwara. And it is a testament to all the elders and people in our community. I thank of all of the uncles, all the aunties who have done so, so, so much in our communities as leaders, and continue to be leaders, and who have raised generations of Nigerians away from home, who have a deep unwavering understanding and appreciation for who we are.

The Nigerian Independence Day Legislation was not something that I did. It is something that we did. It is something that elders in our communities paved the way for decades ago. I am the first Nigerian elected in Manitoba into the government. That does not mean I should have been the first. It doesn’t mean I’m the smartest. I might be the best looking, (laughter in the room) but okay. But there are many, many people here in our community who have been more than capable to lead in these roles, and systemic barriers were in the way. And they focused on breaking down those barriers so that people like myself might one day have the opportunity to work with community and make sure that here in Manitoba, Nigerians are celebrated by way of law. That, to me, is a testament to the strength of our community.

And so, on this day, this night, as we celebrate Nigeria’s Independence, I’m very proud to be part of a government that celebrates with our community 365 days of the year. We look forward to continuing to celebrate and work with the Nigerian community to advance the economic, social, the spiritual, the educational fabric of Manitoba. We have put Manitoba for Nigerians on the map; we have put Manitoba on the map in terms of what Naijas are doing here for everyone. We put them on notice across Canada, we put them on notice across North America, and I look forward to the next Nigerian Independence Day, us coming back and celebrating all of the additional steps we’ve taken throughout the year together.

So, thank you to all the organisers, President Vera, all the leaders from the community, organisers in the room; the volunteers, those who prepared and are serving the food. Let us celebrate, not just now, but every single day moving forward. Thanks everyone.

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