President Tinubu Welcomes Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka And Heritage Voyage Delegation

President Bola Tinubu hosted Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Wale Adeniran, and a group representing the ‘Heritage Voyage of Return’ initiative at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, on Saturday, President Tinubu expressed his support for the initiative, which aims to reunite Afro-descendants with their ancestral African roots.

President Tinubu emphasized that the initiative would not only revive historical awareness within society, recollecting events from years past, but also yield economic advantages….CONTINUE READING

He stated, “Facilitating the reconnection of Afro-Brazilians with their African heritage will be a significant endeavor that will breathe life into our history and invoke the spirits of our forebears.

This initiative will resurrect the memories of bygone eras. Its timing is opportune, aligning with our ongoing efforts to expand the horizons of liberty and democracy in Africa.”

President Tinubu expressed gratitude to Soyinka for endorsing the initiative and for his unwavering dedication and patriotism over the years.

He stressed that the project should be viewed as an essential endeavor and should be pursued earnestly, given its potential economic benefits.

Addressing the gathering earlier, Professor Adeniran, who led the delegation, traced the roots of the project back to the inception of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival.

Adeniran characterized the Heritage Voyage of Return as a monumental maritime journey that will commence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, making stopovers at various African nations before culminating in Lagos.

The delegation’s purpose was to seek President Tinubu’s endorsement of the project and to formally invite Afro-descendants from Brazil to return to their ancestral homeland.

Among the delegation members were Carolina Maira Morais, a Brazilian representative, and Ajoyemi Olabisi Osunleye, a Nigerian member.

Morais noted that approximately 126 million Afro-descendants reside in Brazil, underscoring the project’s objective to bridge the two nations.

She remarked, “Nigeria, home to the largest black population and a prominent African economy, and Brazil, a significant nation in South America, hold immense importance.

Numerous Brazilian families have ancestral ties to Africa. However, no African nation has made the effort to identify and establish connections with them in Brazil.”

Morais revealed that Brazilian President Lula da Silva intends to visit Nigeria, displaying a deep interest in Africa. She also praised Professor Soyinka as a revered figure and inspiration in Brazil.