Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Julius Garvey, the leader of the Diasporan delegation to Africa, have jointly decided that the World Africa Slave Trade Museum should be situated in Badagry, Lagos State.
This came after a meeting conducted at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as part of a courtesy visit to the former President, a prominent African statesman.
In a statement issued by Kehinde Akinyemi, the Special Assistant on Media to Obasanjo, on Friday, both individuals acknowledged the significant historical role of the ancient town of Badagry in the slave trade. Therefore, they decided that it should be chosen as the location for the world museum center, emphasizing the town’s invaluable contributions.
Among the options considered, which included Ghana, Addis-Ababa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Senegal, Nigeria was the chosen location due to its significant capacity and prominent role in the continent. Additionally, during the visit, the delegation engaged in discussions about enhancing trade relations between Africa and the Caribbean, as well as addressing various contemporary issues.
Regarding the visit, Garvey commented that it was “a wonderful experience for me seeing President Obasanjo personally. He has the interest of the Africans at heart; Africans here in the continent and in Diaspora and I am happy to see that. We discussed about the situation in Africa and am pleased to say that the understanding we both reached on the Museum location is pleasing.”
Garvey mentioned that the delegation also engaged in discussions regarding the continent and the Caribbean, both of which are included as part of the six regions “and I am happy about the direction the conservation took.”
He added that he saw Obasanjo as somebody “who is on top of issues of the day. He has done so much for Africans and from the pan-African sense. He has a sharp mind and willing to contribute to the development in Africa. He really looked like my father from his old pictures and that he’s really taking good care of his health,” the Vascular Surgeon said.
He revealed that with many years of experience as a vascular surgeon and a professor of medicine, “I am now focused on advancing my father’s legacy. I am interested in cultivating collaboration with Nigerians to bring home transformation through health, education, business, agriculture, aviation, tourism, technology, manufacturing and more. I hope to see Nigeria become Africa’s transformation engine and the Nigerian Diaspora as the continent’s best Global Ambassadors in this lifetime.”
Julius Garvey, the son of the renowned human rights advocate Marcus Garvey, expressed the significance of his visit, considering that his father, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, never had the opportunity to set foot in Africa despite his advocacy for Africans in the Diaspora to return to their ancestral homeland both physically and spiritually. As his son, the act of returning to Africa and being honored as a Chief in Nigeria holds tremendous importance for him. Obasanjo hinted at his intention to recommend a chieftaincy title for Julius Garvey, given his position as the Prime Minister (Balogun) of the Owu clan.
The delegation also included notable individuals such as Otunba Ayodeji Osibogun, Chairman of Space Network and a prominent figure in Ijebu Land, HRM (Prof) Alexander Olusegun MacGregor, known as the Olu Orile Ilawo, and the Founder & President of the Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology. Moses A. Mawa, President & CEO of Silvertrust Media, Afroglobal Television, and Transformation Institute, and also the Executive Producer of a documentary film that chronicles the historic trip of Marcus Mosiah Garvey and Julius Garvey to Nigeria. This momentous journey is expected to be captured in the documentary film.