Michael Abiona – Member in Focus #40

April 1, 2021

Interview with Michael Abiona from Nigerian Community of Northern Ireland

Tell us a bit about yourself and/or your organisation.

I’m Michael Abiona by name . The current chairperson for Nigerian Community of Northern Ireland. I have lived in Belfast for 11 years. I have family here and have made Belfast my home . My goals or mission in life is to be a successful business man and help the less privileged in the communities both here and back home in Nigeria through support, volunteering and networking.

How well have you/your organisation adapted to the pandemic?

The organisation has adapted to the current pandemic through the support provided by volunteers in the Nigerian community who have been working with other community organisations. We have been able to get funding from Community Foundation NI which has helped a great deal in providing support to members of the community and the organisation. We hope to continue our work if we get the financial means and additional funding.

How well have people/organisations in your area collaborated throughout the pandemic?

We have collaborated to some extent but the lockdown has really hindered us by not being able to get out to do more of the outdoor activities that we do like to do, but we have been able to do some online meetings, wellbeing programmes and few courses online to keep us going.

What key needs are becoming apparent and/or are likely to arise this year?

We are a small organisation with little or no funding. Funding is what helps or gets us doing and carrying out our programmes and projects.

ASK: What do you need, right now, that the members of Community Network NI and/or the wider community may be able to help you with?

We would be glad if we could get a place of our own, an office or small building where NICONI could use to meet, use for our office purposes and carry out our programmes as the main purpose of the organisation is to provide community services to our community members and collaborate with local organisations and community.

If you would like to respond to this ask, please follow the link below and enter “Michael Abiona” to the first field.

OFFER: What support are you currently offering and are you open to members of Community Network NI and/or the wider community making contact?

Right now the support we can provide is by telephone calling and checking on our community members and supporting the isolated and disabled who want or need our support .

If you would like to be connected with this offer of support, please follow the link below and enter “Michael Abiona” to the first field.