Photos: African Envoys, US Officials Attend Nigeria’s Independence Day Celebration in Washington

African envoys and United States officials joined Nigerians in Washington, DC, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day at a dinner hosted by the Nigerian embassy.

Ambassadors from South Africa, Ghana, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Angola, Togo, and Liberia met with Kayode Are, Nigerian ambassador to the US, at the event.

Terence Mcculley, former US ambassador to Nigeria, and Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the US, delivered speeches celebrating Nigeria’s contributions to the US.

Kimberly Bassett, secretary of the District of Columbia, praised Are’s engagement with the district, hailing his work with public schools and efforts to make the Nigerian embassy accessible to the wider Washington community.

Bassett also presented a proclamation from the mayor of Washington declaring October 1, 2026, as ‘Nigeria Day’ in recognition of the contributions of Nigerians and Nigerian Americans to the city.

Here are photos from the event.