By Goldmark Pentho Dansu In a landmark move set to bolster tourism and diaspora engagement in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has...
By Goldmark Pentho Dansu
The project was disclosed by Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu, Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Badagry Constituency I and Chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Culture. In a social media post accompanied by photos of the site visit, Hon. Bonu celebrated the governor’s commitment to the historic town’s cultural revival.
“Exciting news for Badagry!” Bonu wrote. “I’m thrilled to announce that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved and flagged off the construction of the Door of Return Tower. This iconic landmark will become a premier tourism destination in Africa, especially for diaspora visitors.”
Present at the ceremonial flag-off were top government officials, including Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, Member of the House of Representatives for Badagry Federal Constituency; Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs; and other dignitaries.
The Door of Return Tower, which will be sited at Chief Mobee Waterside—close to Nigeria’s first storey building—is envisioned as a symbol of reconciliation and reconnection for Africans in the diaspora. It mirrors similar projects in Ghana and Benin Republic, designed to honor the memory of those taken during the transatlantic slave trade and to welcome their descendants back to the continent.
Hon. Bonu also extended special appreciation to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), for her consistent advocacy for tourism development in Badagry.
With the milestone achievement in the construction of the Door of Return project in Badagry, kudos must go to Dr. Olaide Mesewaku, President of the African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO), who has championed this initiative since 1999. He has remained fierce and consistent in advocating for tourism development in Badagry, a town long recognized for its rich history and central role in the transatlantic slave trade.
The project is expected to spark renewed international interest in Badagry’s historical heritage and accelerate infrastructural growth in the region.
“This is a major win for the people of Badagry,” Bonu added. “Our town’s potential as a tourism and cultural hub is being realized. Badagry’s growth and development is a must.”
Construction is now underway, with stakeholders hopeful that the Door of Return Tower will stand as a unifying beacon of remembrance, resilience, and rebirth for generations to come.
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