By Zika Bobby

The 2017 Diaspora Badagry Festival, holding in August, will feature a symbolic and emotional ceremony tagged: ‘Door of Return ceremony’.

The three-day festival themed: the Voyage to Heritage, which is set to come to a spectacular highlight this year, is significant because for the first time, a door of return is opened for the people in Diaspora whose ancestors were historically taken away as slaves, through the point of no return in Badagry.

The event, organised jointly by the African Renaissance Foundation, Agile Communications Limited in partnership with the Lagos State Government and the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora will hold in August.

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Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said after attending past editions of the event, it is evident that with consistency and the support of the government and respective organisations, it would eventually be the biggest cultural event to come out of Africa.

She expressed delight at the concept of the door of return, celebrating the return of people in Diaspora and their connection to homeland, as well as the platform to showcase the beauty of Lagos State and Nigeria to the world, which she said will enhance tourism.

On his part, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Oversees and Investments, Prof. Ademola Abass, said he was impressed by the standard of the festival and explained it presented a unique opportunity for the people in Diaspora and locals to revel history in a remarkable setting. He emphasised on the fact that the event tallies with the objectives of Lagos State, which include tourism, hospitality, entertainment and the agenda to bring Badagry to fore as a tourism hub in Africa to be reckoned with.

He reminded that the festival would be a highpoint of celebrations commemorating Lagos at 50.