Friday, Georgia Southern University students will celebrate Nigerian Independence Day in the Russell Union Ballroom during International Conversation Hour.

The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The historic date of the holiday is October 1st, 1960.

Christian Nwankwo, information technology grad assistant and international student from Nigeria, will attend the event on Friday.

“Independence Day reminds me of the hope that I have in Nigeria. Nigeria can make progress, can improve, can become one of the most developed countries in the world,” Nwankwo said.

Nwankwo said that though his family does not partake in the celebration, school is usually canceled in Nigeria. Many students in Nigeria wear their school uniforms to march in the parade.

According to GS enrollment data, Nigerian students are the largest group of international students at GS.