The fact that Nigeria has no serious chance to win medals at the London 2012 summer Olympics is perhaps the one fact no one is talking about. The competition is fierce and brutal. Our athletes (members of the basketball team) were seen at Nigeria House mingling with beautiful women and drinking wine. The buzz at the Nigeria House had nothing to do with the fact that going into day six, last week Thursday, Nigeria was yet to win a gold medal or any medal for that matter. The place itself had generated its own hype. Nigeria House has been booked for events and parties up until August 12.
Once inside, as typical Nigerian, men and women trying to feel important, talking on mobile phones nonstop, barging into people as they pace the corridors while guests chat in the foyer and many take refuge in the bar and restaurant area. There is no mistaking that you are in Nigeria. Everybody wants to feel important. Nigeria House has been busy since July 20. Big names in the Nigerian showbiz scene like Wizkid, Wale, Tuface Idibia and Waliyah performed while King Sunny Ade, Wande Coal, Ice Prince were advertised for the events. The major complaint was the empty seats at the theatre, which suggested that the organisers did not work hard enough to give the events the publicity it needed.
Located in the axis of Nigerian hub in London (Canning Town and Peckham), many Nigerians would have only happily filled the theatre to the brim had they been aware of the events. However, the Nigeria House events sponsored by the Bank of Industry and Nigerian Olympic Committee scored winning points with their hosting of ‘An Evening with Wole Soyinka’. The venue was filled to the brim by an appreciative audience, some as old as the professor himself, others sixteen or more. In the audience were Africans, Caucasians and people of all races the man has touched. The host Dotun Adebayo MBE was a brilliant moderator who knew the right buttons to press to get the Prof talking (not that he needed much encouragement). The evening was brilliant and filled with laugher.
