The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has paid a condolence visit to the palace of the late Akran of Badagry, Oba Babatunde Akran, commending his enduring legacy of service and diaspora engagement.
Dabiri-Erewa was received by the Regent, chiefs and members of the royal family, where she expressed heartfelt condolences over the monarch’s passing. She described the late Oba as a visionary traditional ruler whose reign was defined by peace, progress and notable contributions to the socio-economic and cultural development of Badagry and Nigeria at large.
Highlighting what she termed one of his most significant legacies, the NiDCOM boss applauded the institutionalisation of the Badagry Door of Return Festival. She noted that the initiative has further positioned Badagry as a symbolic destination for reconnecting Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
According to her, the late monarch’s commitment to heritage preservation and diaspora engagement strengthened Nigeria’s global cultural diplomacy and will remain a reference point for future generations.
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During the visit, Dabiri-Erewa also inspected the site of the permanent Door of Return, currently under construction. She commended Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, for approving the project, describing it as a landmark tourism and heritage initiative designed to deepen cultural ties and reconnect the historic African diaspora to the motherland.
In their remarks, the chiefs and family members of the late monarch appreciated the visit and reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining cordial relations between the palace, the people of Badagry and NiDCOM.
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