Obasanjo, Garvey Agree On Badagry As Africa’s Slave Trade Museum Centre

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the leader of the Diasporan delegation to Motherland Africa, Dr Julius Garvey have both agreed to have Badagry in Lagos State, as location for the world Africa Slave Trade Museum.

This followed a meeting held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a courtesy visit which Garvey paid on the former President and elder statesman at his residence located within the precinct of the library.

A statement issued yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and signed by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi indicated that the duo of Obasanjo and Garvey noted that the enormous contributions of the ancient town in Badagry to the history of slave trade could not be overemphasized, hence the resolution to have it as the location of the world museum centre.

Akinyemi in the statement said Nigeria, Ghana, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Senegal were considered as choices before the meeting finally settled for Nigeria due to her capacity and leading strength in the continent.

He explained that the visiting team also discussed how to improve trade between Africa and Caribbean and other contemporary issues.

Speaking on the visit, Garvey remarked that it was “A wonderful experience for me seeing President Obasanjo personally. He has the interest of the Africans at heart; Africans here in the continent and in Diaspora and I am happy to see that. We discussed the situation in Africa and am pleased to say that the understanding we both reached on the Museum location is pleasing.

Garvey said the delegation also discussed the continent and the Caribbean as part of the six regions “and I am happy about the direction the conservation took.”

He added that he saw Obasanjo as somebody, “Who is on top of issues of the day. He has done so much for Africans and from the Pan-African sense. He has a sharp mind and is willing to contribute to the development of Africa. He really looked like my father from his old pictures and that he’s really taking good care of his health.”