Mr Olu Jacob
By Duro Ikhazuagbe
Nigeria House
The Nigeria House in Stratford has become the melting point of a sort for most Nigerians who are here for the Olympic Games. Here, most of those tired of continental meals have the option of eating home delicacies. Assorted Nigerian brands of beer and spirits are there for picking at prices that are four times what people pay back home.
Of course, there are several other places being managed by Nigerians where common Nigerian foods are served here in London, the camaraderie and the presence of several top Nigerian Nollywood stars, make the place the destination of first pick.
Segun Arinze, Olu Jacob and Joke Silva were amongst those present here Sunday evening.
Game Tickets
London 2012 tickets
It is no longer news here that most of the venues of competitions here are near empty compared with the opening ceremony that saw the entire Olympic Stadium filled to capacity.
British media are awash with reports of how the tickets have been bought up yet the stands are not filled. Sadly enough, people looking for tickets to buy from unofficial sources (black market) are seeking in vain as some of the people who purchased them with the purpose of reselling to make profit cannot bring them out to sell as the police are on the look out for such tickets.
Some top Nigerians got VIP tickets to opening ceremony to the tune of 11,000 pounds (N2.6m) per seat while popular seats went for between 1,500 pounds and 2,000 pounds.
Supporters Club
Nigerian Supporters Club
Members of the Supporters' Club led by Dr Rafiu Ladipo arrived London to cheer Team Nigeria Monday.
However, the cheer leaders (17 in all) are having hard time on how to access games venues. The reason is because they don't have tickets.
The tight security situation here has even compounded their problems as they can hardly reach any top Nigeria officials to help out.
Even some of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), officials who ought to help out are in a fix as the tickets they have are only meant for officials with valid accreditations.
“We’ve arrived here and I promise you things will never be the same again. Team Nigerian athletes are going to soar higher as we propel them with drums, flutes and songs that will rattle the venues where they fight, run, kick or punch,” boasted the President General of the supporters' club.
One of the coaches hearing the boast quipped: "E be like say na Television this man and his group go cheer for this London wey dem come."
Boxers, Table Tennis Players Shipped Home
Nigeria’s Lukmon Lawal (L) being pummelled by Ihab Almatbouli of Jordan
The table tennis and boxing team to the London 2012 Olympic Games left London Monday and are expected to arrive Lagos later Tuesday. The teams have lost out in their events.
The table tennis quartet of Segun Toriola, Aruna Quadri, Funke Oshonaike and Edem Offiong and the Boxing duo of Muideen Akanji and Lawal Lukman flew Lufthansa (8.a.m) in the six-hour flight to Lagos.