Tinubu thanked Soyinka for supporting the initiative and for his commitment and patriotism over the years.
By Jeffrey Agbo
President Bola Tinubu has met Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja for the first time since he was sworn in on May 29.
A statement issued on Saturday by Tinubu’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said Soyinka was part of a delegation of the Heritage Voyage of Return initiative aimed at reuniting Afro-descendants with their African roots.
Speaking at the meeting which took place on Friday, Tinubu said the programme will not only re-awaken the historical awareness of society by bringing back memories of what happened many years ago but will also create economic benefits.
Mr Ngelale quoted Tinubu as saying: “Reconnecting Afro-Brazilians with their African roots will be an iconic project that will rekindle our past and light up the spirit of our ancestors. It will re-awaken memories of what happened many years ago. And it is a good thing that this is coming now at a time when we are working on expanding the frontiers of freedom and democracy in Africa.”
While thanking Soyinka for supporting the initiative and for his commitment and patriotism over the years, Tinubu emphasised that the project would also come with economic benefits that must be leveraged, noting that, “this is an important project that must be pursued.”
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Speaking earlier, Professor Wale Adeniran, who led the delegation, said the history of the project dated back to when the Lagos Black Heritage Festival began.
“Because this is an identical project, the initiators of the Heritage Voyage of Return discussed the plan with Professor Soyinka, who also endorsed it,” Adeniran said.
Adeniran described the Heritage Voyage of Return as a historic maritime journey that will begin in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, making stops at various African nations and terminating in Lagos.
He said the team had come to seek President Tinubu’s endorsement and for him to formally invite the Afro-descendants from Brazil home.
Other members of the delegation were Carolina Morais, a Brazilian, and Ajoyemi Osunleye, a Nigerian.
Morais noted that there are around 126 million Afro-descendants in Brazil, stating that the project would be integrating the two nations together.
