Miss Global Nigeria 2011, Judith Ilechukwu crowned on June 19th, 2011 by the High Commissioner of Trinidad & Tobago to Nigeria, Mr Nyahuma Obika. © Hegel Goutier
Caribbean diaspora
Three Caribbean countries: Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Cuba have embassies in Abuja and a consular representative in Lagos. For Robert Miller, High Commissioner of Jamaica, "Nigeria offers tremendous opportunities for cooperation with Jamaica. We are trying, for instance, to attract Nigerian investors to Jamaica and promote the export of our packaged food products to Nigeria as well as to stimulate joint ventures between the two countries in cultural industries”.
The Caribbean community in Nigeria is largely Lagos-based. Lorna Opanubi, one of its spokespersons said that Caribbean citizens number around 300 including 200 Jamaicans who are mainly well-qualified experts, doctors, lawyers, laboratory technicians and teachers. Ms. Opanubi graduated as a nurse in the United Kingdom and arrived in Nigeria in 1973. She has created a training school for hotel restaurants, currently attended by 80 students.
The contest to elect Miss Global Nigeria held on June 19 2011 in Lagos, whose winner will participate in the Miss Global International contest, was sponsored by the High Commission of Jamaica. It brought greater public awareness of the Caribbean community in Nigeria.
Hegel Goutier