Dr. Julius Marcus Garvey Jr, the son of foremost political activist, Marcus Garvey and the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu are among the dignitaries expected at the 4th Lagos Door of Return event.
The chairman/chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who disclosed this at a press conference yesterday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa Secretariat, in Lagos, said the event is being organised in partnership with the Lagos State government.
Dabiri-Erewa said, “The door of return includes receiving our brothers and sisters that were taken as slaves over 400 years ago historically, spiritually, emotionally and physically. 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.
“It is a very emotional ceremony. It is an event everybody needs to participate in. What Lagos will eventually do is to open a permanent door in Badagry, Lagos. 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 governments builds on it, it will now be world renowned heritage for anywhere in the world.’’
She added that Sanwo-Olu will be the chief host of the event that ‘’will open the door of return to prosperity. Dr. Julius Marcus Garvey jnr will be the special guest of honour and will be his first time coming to this part of the world.’’
She said 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.
Dabiri-Erewa said the 4th Door of Return will include visits to historical sites and birth joy and excitement to the motherland.
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