THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande recently assumed duty as the Consul General of Nigeria in Germany’s main commercial city of Frankfurt.
The alumni of the Department of European Studies of the University of Ibadan from across the globe gathered in Frankfurt to celebrate the top diplomat, who is one of their own, for his professional accomplishment.
Mr Akande is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan (UI), having graduated from the Department of European Studies with a degree in French Language.
The reception, which took place at the Grand Empire Hotels and Suites in Frankfurt on 2 October, was a double celebration as the event was also to mark Nigeria’s National Day 2021.
It was an evening of tributes to Ambassador Akande, as friends testified to his dedication to duty and total devotion to the cause of Nigeria.
The UI alumni , who flew in from the UK, Ireland, USA and Nigeria, showed with their presence the esteem in which they hold the top diplomat.
In his welcome speech, Dr Domino Adams said the alumni were very proud of the professional achievement of Ambassador Akande and felt it important to converge on Frankfurt to welcome him. He added that the success of the envoy shows that dedication to duty and a high sense of responsibility could only lead to success in whatever one does.
In response, Ambassador Akande said he was moved by the gesture of his friends who flew in from different cities of the world to welcome him into his new position in Frankfurt. And he spoke of the “nostalgic joy it invokes” in him seeing friends from his student days, most of whom he was seeing for the first time in decades.
The Consul General thanked the UI alumni association and praised its members who are from different parts of Nigeria for “keeping a progressive union, an important contributor to the process of nation building”.
The hosts of the event Mr Chike Echimina and Chief Emeka Anagu, introduced the alumni of the University of Ibadan European Studies Department who were present at the event and thanked them for showing up.
Among dignitaries who graced the occasion were Elder Ajibola Antonio, Engr. Bolaji Agboola, president of the Nigerian Community Frankfurt, Isaac Izoya, founder of Nollywood Film Festival Germany, and Prince Ade Abiola, entertainment entrepreneur. Nollywood star actress Lilian Bach, who came in from Austria, was also at the event – regal and elegant in her dress.
It was an evening of speeches, good food and drinks and beautiful music, supplied by the award-winning DJ Stone (Yomi Bello) who entertained the gathering to the early hours of the morning.
Prince Ade Abiola
The Alumni of the University of Ibadan Department of European Studies who attended the event were:
Mr Chike Echimina, Chief Emeka Anagu, Abiodun Opadeji, Chief Dr Domino Adams, Bassey Goodwill, Professor Augustine Aguele (USA), Soji Adewusi (UK), Princewill Omagbemi (UK), Kayode Ojo (UK), Dr Olivia Ugokwe Akande, Remi Omotola (UK), Remi Hassan (UK), Bayo Ogunlewe, Eze Ogwe, Nike Durowoju Showunmi (Dublin) and Adebolu Amushan (Ireland Dublin).
