The boisterous Nigerian spirit was on display on Saturday night as AUN students mounted a colorful and vibrant gala to commemorate the country's 62 Independence anniversary. In the expansive interior of the Commencement Hall, transformed into a bright green and white spectacle, one did not require any new supporting data from the National Bureau of Statistics to confirm that Nigeria is a youthful country. And youth, Nigerian youth, are energetic, absorbed, patriotic, and above all, very imaginative. Students and guests wore beautiful national dresses that portrayed Nigeria's global identity as a culturally diverse, resourceful and buoyant country. It was another unforgettable evening at the American University of Nigeria when the creative energy of Nigerian youth poured out in graceful elegance, and content was expressed in bold strokes, to the delight of students, faculty and staff members, and their families.
The Office of Student Activities (OSAI) and the Campus Activities Board (CAB) organized this memorable event under the watchful eyes of the Chief Host and Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Student, Mr. Byron Bullock.
The famous Galaxy Bank, an AUN original, thrilled the audience with tuneful beats adding a melodious and relaxing pop-jazzy background to a cultural ambiance. Artistically inventive band leader and saxophonist Adeboye Olumode took the music to the floor, circling the rounded tables decked in the national colors of white and green and bearing the names of all the 36 states of the Nigerian Federation. The AUN student Dance Troupe (ADT) thrilled the audience with an excellent dance performance, while Inayat Sani, a Computer Science major, showcased his talent with an excellent rendition of a song titled "Dancing Girl. "The AUN Poetry Club gave a presentation titled "The Good, Bad and Ugly," a poem centered around the Nigerian Civil War, peace, unity, and Nigeria's bright prospects. Another presentation, "Welcome to My Borno," a story inspired by the Insurgency and Citizenship in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria, revealed AUN students' cerebral profundity and sensitivity to the national discourse.
Other event highlights included dance presentations by students representing various ethnic groups decked out in their attires. It was another evening of inspiring song, dance, and artistic expression, another for the memory.
Report and photographs by Chiedozie Joseph