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Last modified: 29 Jul 2020 10:49am

The Iposu family in traditional Nigerian dress with Mayor Sam Broughton

A long road from Nigeria to Rolleston ended in happiness for the Iposu family as they were welcomed as New Zealand citizens.

The Iposu family were among nine new New Zealanders from Nigeria, the Philippines and Nepal, who were sworn in at the latest citizenship ceremony held in the Council chambers.

Sade Iposu, from Rolleston, said it had been a long journey to citizenship, but the family couldn’t be happier. “We’re so grateful, so happy, so pleased—at last.” Mrs Iposu said her husband first moved to New Zealand in 2003 to complete his PhD at Lincoln University and the family joined him in 2005.

Mrs Iposu, a micro-biologist by training, got a job with the Canterbury District Health Board and was later able to retrain as a nurse. The family loved Selwyn and had built a house in Faringdon, Mrs Iposu said. They had felt welcomed by people, with great friends who supported her through working and looking after four children when her husband had to return to Nigeria for a time.

After a delay with their residency application the family were delighted to officially be New Zealanders. “We have been so blessed to have a Kiwi family who were so welcoming and lovely and said this is your home too,” Mrs Iposu said. “It’s not an easy journey, but what I have learned along the way is you just have to focus and never give up.”