The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in conjunction with the Lagos State Government during the 4th Door Of Return Diaspora festival held on Saturday, welcomed back 27 Nigerians in diaspora to the ancient town of Badagry, Lagos State. This is even as the returnees who are children of former slaves vowed to invest in the Nigerian economy and build a Diaspora Palace in Badagry.
Speaking during the ceremony, the NIDCOM Chairman, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa said that Nigerians are excited to see children of former slaves return back to their roots to contribute to socio-economic development of the country.
According to the NIDCOM Chairman, “The whole of Badagry is happy to receive you. We want to open Nigeria to the world though our brothers and sisters whose fore-fathers were taken away into captivity as slaves. As we open this 4th Door of Return, we believe no treasure should be hidden. The returnees want to invest in Nigeria. They want to build a Diaspora Palace in Badagry.
“Some of them are coming for the first time but have said they will come back again, and again.”
Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa further stated that if the event is well harvested, exploited and positioned, it will become one of the best tourism product in Nigeria, given its Diaspora content.
On her part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson Awoyinka stated that she now expects the returnees to carry Nigerian passports.
“We are very happy to receive you here. We hope that you will come back again. This is home for you.
“We expect you all to now carry Nigerian passports. We allow dual nationality in Nigeria, so you are all allowed to carry Nigerian passports,” the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture stated.
The event witnessed cultural display from the different quarters of Badagry.
During the three-day event, Dr Julius Garvey, son of the legendary Marcus Garvey was given a new name by the Akran of Badagry. He is now to be called Ajigo of Badagry Kingdom which means in Yoruba language, the Child returns home.
Dr Garvey who could not help expressing his excitement and joy of return, maintained that it is indeed a long awaited home- coming. He promised to remain connected and rooted with Badagry, Lagos and Nigeria as homeland.
Also, Dr David Anderson of the United States of America who has been to Badagry for three consecutive times and with a revered title of *Jogbo* of Badagry Kingdom, and had been named Mautin, added that it is always refreshing and heartwarming coming home, his motherland, Badagry.
As part of Activities lined up for the three-day event, the 27-member historic African Diaspora to the Badagry Door of Return Festival visited historical sites and monuments revealing the true perspectives of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade.
First point of call was the Seat of the British Canon donated to King Aholu Wawu of Badagry in 1843.
At the Lagos State Heritage Museum, it was a sad recollection of horrendous pictorial presentation of the evils of slavery.
The delegation was also at the Mobee Family Museum Relics, depicting the height of man inhumanity to man through the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade.
At the Seriki Williams Abbas Slave Museum, relics of Brazilian Baracoon of 1840 and Point of No Return, Gerefu-Badagry, were visible.
Also present at the 4th edition of the Door of Return ceremony was the Lagos State House of Assembly member Representing Badagry Constituency I and Chairman House Committee on Arts, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Bonu Solomon Sannu and the Lagos State Chairman of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Mr. Tope Fajemirokun