President Bola Tinubu has given his full support to the ‘Heritage Voyage of Return’ initiative, which aims to reunite Afro-descendants with their African heritage. In a statement released by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, on Saturday, the President emphasized that the program’s impact would extend beyond historical awareness, as it holds the potential to generate economic benefits.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The President shared his endorsement during a meeting with a delegation led by Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka and the initiators of the project. The audience took place in Abuja on Friday. President Tinubu noted, “Reconnecting Afro-Brazilians with their African roots will be an iconic project that will rekindle our past and light up the spirit of our ancestors. It will reawaken memories of what happened many years ago. And it is a good thing that this is coming now at a time when we are working on expanding the frontiers of freedom and democracy in Africa.”
President Tinubu expressed gratitude to Prof. Soyinka for his unwavering support and commitment over the years. He highlighted that the initiative carries substantial economic potential that should not be overlooked. The President stressed, “This is an important project that must be pursued.”
Prof. Wale Adeniran, the leader of the delegation, traced the project’s origins back to the initiation of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival. Adeniran emphasized that the Heritage Voyage of Return aligns with this initiative and gained Prof. Soyinka’s endorsement.
Adeniran described the Heritage Voyage of Return as a historical maritime journey that sets sail from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, stopping at various African nations before concluding in Lagos. The purpose of the delegation’s visit was to secure President Tinubu’s endorsement and to formally invite Afro-descendants from Brazil back to Nigeria.
The delegation included Carolina Maira Morais, a Brazilian, and Ajoyemi Olabisi Osunleye, a Nigerian. Morais highlighted that Brazil is home to approximately 126 million Afro-descendants and that this project aims to foster integration between Nigeria, with the largest black population and a leading African economy, and Brazil, a prominent South American nation. Morais pointed out that although there are numerous African traditional families in Brazil, no African country has undertaken an initiative to identify and connect with them directly. She also mentioned that Brazilian President Lula da Silva plans to visit Nigeria, displaying his deep affinity for Africa. Morais praised Professor Soyinka’s heroic stature and icon status in Brazil.
