By Stellamaries Amuwa, Abuja
The President of the African Diaspora Union (AFRIDU), Archbishop Prof. Chidiebere Ogbu, says Nigeria will play host to the maiden African Descendants Diaspora Homecoming and Global African Economic Investment Summit.
He stated this at a World Press Conference ahead of the Summit in Abuja.
Prof. Ogbu noted that this is a great opportunity for a global investment summit in Nigeria, that seeks not only to attract African descendants into Africa for investment purposes; but also to create a move on reparative justice, which can be a win-win situation.
He emphasised that the first edition of the event is cited in Abuja, Nigeria, because of the country’s historical role as the epicentre of the Transatlantic slave trading. The AFRIDU President asserted that holding an international gathering in honour of African Descendants in the diaspora will be a trending massive homecoming ceremony, for all black people outside Africa, an opportunity to come to their motherland and Nigeria.
Economically, he stated that the Visit by Africans in the diaspora will attract about $30 trillion worth of investment and five million jobs, in the areas of ethical mining, agribusiness, oil and gas, real estate, trade and lots more to boost development in Africa.
According to him, the event is scheduled for October 18-27, with series of events such as a traditional title conferment on some deserving African Descendants in the Diaspora on October 18 and 19, 2024 in Owerri Imo State; official declaration and opening ceremony by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on October 21, 2024; the Global African Investment Summit holding at the Eagle Square on October 23 and 24, 2024, and the Badagry Door of Return Festival, Lagos on October 26 and 27, 2024.
In addition, Prof. Ogbu acknowedged its close working relationship with NiDCOM in setting up its activities, especially the President’s Launching of the Twelve African Apostles Book and Postmortem Awards to families of former African liberators/leaders, as approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila on April 23, 2024.
Similarly, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) represented by the Secretary to the Commission, affirmed her readiness towards a successful outing at the first edition of AFRIDU’s Homecoming and Global African Economic Investment Summit.
Dr Sule Yakubu Bassi, stated that the inaugural Summit is very timely in converging Africans in the diaspora, to harness the human, material and economic resources of the African Diaspora for Africa’s progress. He agreed that the Summit, in collaboration with the AFRIDU, will serve as a platform for dialogue, partnership, and knowledge exchange among policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from Africa and the diaspora. He called on all private and public organisations to key into the homecoming ceremony.
