Motherland 2025, Nigeria’s flagship global homecoming festival, took centre stage at the Nigerian Independence Day Parade in New York City, celebrating national pride and strengthening connections with Nigerians in the diaspora.
The participation formed part of the ongoing Motherland Roadshow, which has been touring major international cities to promote the festival’s vision of unity, creativity, and cultural pride.
Building on recent appearances at Africon in Atlanta and the United Nations General Assembly, the Motherland team drew attention to the vibrancy and resilience of the Nigerian community in New York.
The global tour is visiting cities such as Atlanta, Houston, Washington, DC, and London, with each stop featuring cultural exhibitions, networking events, and community engagements aimed at deepening the bond between Nigerians at home and abroad.
In New York, founding team members Chidimma Nwankwo and Sandra Oboh joined the city’s Nigerian community in marking the country’s 64th Independence anniversary, using the occasion to highlight the role of cultural exchange ahead of the maiden Motherland Festival scheduled for December in Abuja and Lagos.
At the parade, the Motherland team distributed hundreds of early-access passes, drawing excitement among attendees, many of whom expressed readiness to participate in the festival.
“Motherland is about creating lasting bridges and creating space for Nigerians at home and abroad to celebrate and promote our culture,” said co-founder Chidimma Nwankwo.
“New York has a vibrant Nigerian community, so it was important for us to include NYC on our roadshow schedule.
“By joining events like the Nigerian Independence Day Parade, we are reaffirming our commitment to global Nigerians and inviting them to be part of the Motherland movement.
“The buzz for Motherland 2025 is growing, and we are excited to open our doors to everyone visiting Lagos and Abuja this December. Today alone, we had hundreds of New Yorkers sign up to join us.”
