Governor Sanwo-Olu to Transform Badagry into a Global Heritage Hub at the 5th Door of Return Ceremony

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Badagry, a historic coastal town in Lagos State, has solidified its position as a premier destination for heritage tourism, ceremoniously welcoming 57 participants from Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, Cuba, Haiti, and the Benin Republic. 

In a powerful and emotional event, they were received on October 19 as kings and queens through the Badagry Door of Return, symbolically reversing the historic transatlantic slave journeys of their ancestors.

The event, the 5th edition of the Badagry Door of Return Festival 2025, highlights a growing trend of ancestral tourism to Southwest Nigeria. The Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for constructing the new permanent Door of Return monument, describing it as “a lasting tourism legacy for Lagos State.”

She also hailed Prof. Wole Soyinka as “a legend and inspiration to all,” adding that the festival represents a “historic, emotional, spiritual, and economic reconnection to Africa.”

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Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, emphasised the festival’s profound impact on cultural tourism. He described the Badagry Door of Return Ceremony as “a historic beginning of a stupendous event that reconnects Africa with its diaspora powerfully and emotionally.”

Speaking at the festival, Prof. Soyinka commended Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, alongside the three Badagry local government chairmen and Mr. Solomon Bonu of the Lagos State House of Assembly, for organising a memorable and culturally significant ceremony.

He noted that the festival marked the beginning of the planned “Heritage Voyage of Return,” a major new tourism initiative set to commence in Brazil next year and conclude in Badagry. He expressed optimism that the journey will transform the historical “Point of No Return” into a site of joy and reconnection for the African diaspora.

Reinforcing the government’s commitment to tourism, Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by his special adviser on tourism, arts and culture, and environment, Mr. Idris Aregbe, commended Dabiri-Erewa for her dedication. He assured participants that Lagos would remain an attractive destination for cultural and heritage tourism and pledged that the permanent festival site would be completed and inaugurated during the next edition.

The festival’s international appeal was clear. Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales Palmero, lauded the event, saying it serves as a motivation to preserve shared history. Citing Cuban historian Fernando Ortiz, she noted that “Cuba without the blacks will not be Cuba,” highlighting the deep cultural roots that draw tourists from her nation.

Mr. Solomon Bonu, Chairman of the Lagos State House Committee on Tourism, described the festival as “a heritage bridge between Africa and her children abroad,” pledging legislative support for initiatives that promote culture, tourism, and historical preservation.

Similarly, Babatunde Hunpe, Chairman of Badagry Local Government, speaking for his colleagues, expressed gratitude to Dabiri-Erewa and Governor Sanwo-Olu for elevating Badagry’s global profile as a travel destination.

The impact on the visiting participants was profound. International guests, including Jeffrey Daniels of the hit band Shalamar, Dr David Anderson (author of Gracism), and the Consul-General of Brazil to Nigeria, Celso França, shared their profound experiences, describing the event as a profoundly emotional and joyful return to their ancestral roots.

The Badagry Door of Return Festival continues to grow as a vital symbol of hope and reconnection, successfully transforming a history of pain into a vibrant celebration of identity, resilience, and homecoming for visitors from around the world.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) And Answers

What is the Badagry Door of Return Festival? 

It is a significant cultural and heritage tourism event held annually in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria. It symbolically welcomes members of the African diaspora back to their ancestral homeland, transforming the historical “Point of No Return” associated with the slave trade into a celebratory “Door of Return.”

Who attended the 2025 festival?  

The 2025 festival welcomed 57 participants (tourists) from the diaspora, including individuals from Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, Cuba, Haiti, and the Benin Republic. Dignitaries like Prof. Wole Soyinka, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and representatives from the Lagos State government and various embassies also attended.

Why is this festival important for Lagos tourism?

The festival positions Lagos State as a key global destination for cultural and heritage tourism. It attracts international visitors, promotes investment in local infrastructure (like the new permanent monument), and highlights Badagry’s unique historical significance. Governor Sanwo-Olu has pledged to keep Lagos an attractive destination for this type of travel.

What did Prof. Wole Soyinka say about the event? 

Prof. Wole Soyinka described the ceremony as “a historic beginning of a stupendous event that reconnects Africa with its diaspora powerfully and emotionally.” He also announced a future tourism initiative, the “Heritage Voyage of Return,” which will connect Brazil and Badagry.

What is the “Heritage Voyage of Return”? 

As Prof. Wole Soyinka mentioned, this is a planned transnational tourism initiative set to begin in Brazil next year. It will trace the ancestral journey back to Africa, concluding at the Door of Return festival in Badagry, further strengthening the tourism and cultural links between the continents.