By Peter Dansu The Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has announced that President Bol...
By Peter Dansu
The Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has announced that President Bola Tinubu will personally welcome over 2,000 voyagers from Brazil and Cuba to Badagry during the 2026 edition of the Door of Return Festival.
Dabiri-Erewa made the disclosure during the Fifth Door of Return Ceremony held in Badagry on Saturday, describing the upcoming event as a major cultural milestone that will reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
According to her, the 2026 voyage will be coordinated by Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and will recreate the historic transatlantic journey — this time in reverse — as descendants of enslaved Africans sail back home to Nigerian shores.
“Next year, under the chairmanship of Professor Wole Soyinka, we’re planning a real historical voyage from Brazil and Cuba to Nigeria. Today’s event is just a prelude,” she explained. “President Tinubu, who initiated the Black Heritage Festival during his tenure as Lagos State governor, will be on ground to receive our brothers and sisters returning through this symbolic journey.”
Dabiri-Erewa also commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for constructing a permanent Door of Return monument in Badagry, describing it as a lasting gateway of hope and homecoming for Africans worldwide.
In his remarks, Professor Soyinka noted that the journey of the African people would remain incomplete until there was a genuine reconnection with their roots. He described the Door of Return as a symbolic starting point for the long-awaited reunion of the African diaspora with the continent.
Representing Governor Sanwo-Olu, his Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Idris Aregbe, hailed the festival as “a living testament to Lagos State’s commitment to cultural renaissance and diaspora unity.”
Aregbe applauded the people of Badagry for preserving their heritage as the cradle of return, pledging the state government’s continuous support to elevate the town’s global recognition.
Lagos State House of Assembly’s Committee Chairman on Tourism, Bonu Solomon, praised the festival’s symbolic importance, calling it “a heritage bridge between Africa and her children abroad.” He also promised continued legislative support for initiatives that promote culture, tourism, and the preservation of Lagos’ historical identity.
The Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to supporting the festival and other cultural activities that strengthen tourism and drive economic growth in the ancient town.
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