Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has committed to continuing efforts aimed at fostering cultural exchange, tourism, and economic development between Nigeria and the African diaspora.
Sanwo-Olu made this commitment during a courtesy visit to the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday by Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and Dr. Gina Paige, who led the African Ancestry Delegation.
The governor encouraged Africans in the diaspora to reconnect with their heritage and roots, assuring that his administration would provide support to ensure that the process is both seamless and transformative.
“There is no place like home. We are using Lagos as a platform and a foundation to tell the Nigerian story and to carve out a unique identity for ourselves,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu assured the delegation that his administration would explore ways to collaborate with them in their mission.
In her speech, Dabiri-Erewa expressed gratitude to the state government for its support, noting that many African descendants have expressed a desire to return to their roots and live in their motherland, not merely as tourists.
Similarly, Paige explained that the purpose of the visit was to establish a collaborative relationship with the Lagos State Government to facilitate the rediscovery of African roots and heritage.
Paige, co-founder of AfricanAncestry.com, highlighted the aim to help Black people transform the way they view themselves and their connection to Africa.
“During slavery, we lost our names and ancestry. We want to help Black people reclaim their heritage and identity,” she said.
The delegation’s goal, Paige continued, is to enable people of African descent to make a ‘birthright journey’ to connect with their ancestral homeland. To this end, they are requesting the assistance of the Lagos State Government to facilitate the acquisition of Nigerian passports for diaspora members, making travel between Nigeria and the diaspora easier.
“We humbly ask for your support in facilitating this, not only for us but for those who will come after us,” she added.
Paige emphasised that this was the inaugural African Ancestry Family Reunion, a specially curated birthright journey. “It is our birthright to be here, and it is our birthright to return whenever we wish,” she concluded.
According to Paige, the delegation aims to promote a positive experience and change the narrative about Nigeria in the United States. The delegation is set to visit several Nigerian cities, including Osogbo, Ibadan, and Abuja.