Gents Club Berlin celebrated its first anniversary with a big get-together in the German capital city on Saturday, 3 November. Members of the socio-cultural-humanitarian association and their families joined by invited guests turned out in beautiful, colourful attires to mark the first birthday of the club, founded by a group of Nigerians.
It was an evening of good music, supplied by a live band, and sumptuous Nigerian food and delicious drinks. And there was plenty of dancing and merry-making.
In his keynote speech at the event, Akinwolemiwa Akinpade, president of the Gents Club, said members came together to support one another in a spirit of solidarity, which is important due to the challenges of living in the Diaspora. Beyond that, the group seeks to strengthen the unity of the Nigerian community while extending helping hands to needy compatriots in Germany and the less-privileged at home.
Since its founding in April 2017, the 9-member association had already carried out a humanitarian mission to Nigeria to donate uniforms, books and shoes to school children in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Mr Akinpade revealed.
Members also support Nigerian asylum-seekers in Germany by providing them with important information and meeting some of their material needs. The club also offers financial support to rejected asylum-seekers who voluntarily choose to return home to ease their reintegration.
Akinpade said the Club will continue its humanitarian activities with a plan to send a humanitarian mission to Ondo and Ekiti States next year.
The grand patron of the Gents Club is the popular Nigerian musician and media entrepreneur Dr Yinka Ayefele while the grand matron is Alhaja Sadat Hassan, Deputy Controller of Immigration at the Nigerian Immigration Service, Lagos, who was the head of immigration at the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin for five years until 2016.
The Patron of the Club in Germany is Mr Olalekan Amida, former president of the Egbe omo Oduduwa Berlin, and his female counterpart, is Mrs Mary Bamigbe Elebiju Bruder, founder of the humanitarian organisation Bruderhilfe Social Development Initiative.
Members of the Gents Club are Mr Akinwolemiwa Akinpade (president), Mr Kassim Olalekan Adedeji, Mr Kayode Arowojulo, Mr Gafar Moshood Ajetunmobi, Mr Michael Muyiwa Oladejo, Mr Jide Animashaun, MrTimothy Akin Odeyale, Mr Kehinde Akinlembola and Otunba Iyiola Kareem.
Contact to Gents Club:
Gafar Moshood Ajetunmobi, +4915211567189