Badagry: Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has announced that President Bola Tinubu will welcome more than 2,000 individuals on a historical voyage to Badagry as part of the 2026 Diaspora Festival.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dabiri-Erewa revealed the plans during the Fifth Door of Return Ceremony of The Diaspora Festival in Badagry. She stated that the voyage will be orchestrated by Nigerian playwright and 1986 Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka. Under Soyinka’s chairmanship, the event will recreate the journey from Brazil and Cuba to Nigeria. President Tinubu, who initiated the Black Heritage Festival as governor of Lagos State, will be present to receive the participants.
Dabiri-Erewa praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for constructing the permanent Door of Return in Badagry. Prof. Soyinka emphasized the importance of reconnecting with ancestral roots, labeling the festival as a symbolic launch for the return of Africans in the Diaspora.
Mr. Idris Aregbe, Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture to Governor Sanwo-Olu, highlighted the festival’s role in reinforcing Lagos’ commitment to cultural renaissance and diaspora unity. Representing the governor, Aregbe applauded Badagry’s legacy as a return cradle and assured continued state support for its global recognition.
Mr. Bonu Solomon, Chairman of the House Committee on Tourism in the Lagos State House of Assembly, noted the festival’s symbolic significance as a heritage link between Africa and its diaspora. He promised ongoing legislative support for tourism, culture, and the preservation of Lagos’ historical identity.
Mr. Babatunde Hunpe, Chairman of Badagry Local Government, underscored Badagry’s sacred role as the soil of return, pledging to support the festival and other cultural initiatives that enhance the town’s tourism and economic stature. Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Miriam Palmero, expressed joy over the enduring cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
Dr. David Anderson, leading the returnees from the United States, described the Door of Return as one of joy and happiness. The event, graced by colorful displays and performances, saw Prof. Soyinka awarding Certificates of Return to 57 international returnees, including families from the United Kingdom and other diaspora groups.