Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Dr Julius Marcus Garvey Jnr, son of foremost civil rights leader, Marcus Garvey are amongst the dignitaries expected at the 4th Lagos Door of Return event holding in Badagry towards the end of this month.
The Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, made this known on Monday at a press conference held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center, Alausa Secretariat, in Lagos and attended by the State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awosika, among others, saying that the event was being organized in partnership with the Lagos State government.
NIDCOM boss stated that the Door of Return “includes receiving our brothers and sisters that were taken as slaves over 400 years ago historically, spiritually, emotionally and physically,” declaring that “it is a connection to what we call the joy of return.”
“They are going to take a long walk through that path to the point of no return and we now receive them as kings and queens to where their ancestors were taken away so many years ago,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
According to her, it is a very emotional ceremony which everybody needed to participate in, saying that what Lagos would eventually do is to open a permanent door in Badagry areas of the state.
“We are going to witness the return on the 21st of October, you are going to see what Badagry has, what Lagos has for tourism. No country in the world has what Badagry has for tourism. If the Lagos State government builds on it, it will now be world renowned heritage for anywhere in the world,” she stated.
Dabiri-Erewa added that Governor Sanwo-Olu, who is expected to be the chief host of the event, would open the Door of Return to Prosperity, while Dr. Marcus Garvey jnr would be the Special Guest of Honour “and this will be his first time coming to this part of the world.”
Speaking further, NIDCOM boss explained that the Diaspora festival tagged 4th Door of Return will witness the re-enactment of the experience of captured slaves chained in the neck and legs as they wriggled through the “Point of No Return” to the ship.
According to her, the 4th Door of Return will include visits to historical sites and birth joy and excitement to the motherland, even as she disclosed that investors were waiting to build the Diaspora Palace in Badagry.
“Investors are waiting to build the Diaspora Palace in Badagry. A lot of people have done their DNA and they are saying, we are from Nigeria and we want to come back home. Badagry is a route to slave trade on African soil and that same Badagry will be the 4th Door of Return for many black men and women in Diaspora to experience the motherland firsthand.
“I am glad that the Diasporas are coming here. As they are coming here, they are being led to what they can do for Africa, particularly in Nigeria. It is a land of opportunities. It is a virgin land waiting to be tapped.
“For me, it is a lifetime experience and it is an experience everybody should have. We will work with the state, with the Commission and NGOs to see the best we can do to protect our country,” she stated.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then