By Ada Nkong
In a bid to honour Africans in diaspora for their contribution to the growth and development of Africa, the Africa Diaspora Union ( AFRIDU-Nigeria) is collaborating with Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NiDCOM to hold International homecoming for Africans in Diaspora
The event which is billed to hold on the 17th -27th October has as its theme, ‘Concept of international gathering in honour of the Africans in diaspora 6th region’.
President of AFRIDU Arch-Bishop Chidiebere Ogbu who spoke at a world press conference in Abuja said the event would afford many Africans in the diaspora the opportunity to visit Africa and Nigeria as well as the specific states where their ancestral homes are.
According to him, the homecoming will see a massive influx of black people from all walks of life including professionals, investors, entertainers ,academia and diverse experts which is aimed at African integration .
ArchBishop Ogbu further said the objectives of AFRIDU include bringing closure to Africans in diaspora who are descendants of victims of slave trade, kidnapping, coercion and forceful evacuation from their motherland through discussing ways of restoration and getting reparative justice.
Speaking on the activities for the programme, he said it would be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu adding that the Homecoming Event, International Gathering in Honor of the Africans in Diaspora 6th Region/ Global African Economic Investment Summit and Badagry Door of Return Festival 2024 will be jointly hosted by the African Diaspora Union (AFRIDU) and The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission
(NiDCOM) from the 18th to 27th October with the
opening session at the Presidential Banquet Hall State House Abuja, on the 21st October 2024.
A Side Event of honoring some deserving African Descendants with Chieftaincy
Title to promote the Nigerian culture and make the African Descendants to
learn and uphold our traditions. This will be holding in Owerri Imo State on
the 18th and 19th of October 2024.
There will be a Global African Investment Summit to be held at the Eagle Square on the 23rd and 24th October 2024.
Finally, there shall be the Badagary Door of Return Festival on the 26th and
27th of October where our brothers of the African Descendants and many other
Nigerians will join to experience the Slavery transportation and point of exit
from Badagary to the land of the unknown.
He further noted that there would be a Launch of the African Twelve Apostles/Liberators Book; and a
Posthumous Award to the Families of the African Liberators by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the official opening session.
The president also appealed to President Tinubu to write Nigeria’s name in gold by granting citizenship to the diasporas wishing to be identified with Nigeria in keeping with her Big Brother status in Nigeria.
“This is an opportunity for Nigeria and our President to make history and write Nigeria’s name in gold in the world records for been the first to use Presidential Exclusive Rights to grant citizenship waiver to the African Descendants who are seeking for citizenship rights under a reparative justice and who believe their ancestry is Nigeria, especially the African Diaspora Experts, Investors,Professionals, Scientists, Entertainers, Academia, and people with diverse skills that will help improve the economy of Nigeria”.
On her part, the Chairman NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa who was represented by Dr Yakubu Basi commended AFRIDU for connecting Africans in diaspora to their roots through the initiative while assuring them of NiDCOM and the Federal Government’s commitment to the success of the program.
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